Number of people quitting jobs hits record h

By Zachary Halaschak
November 12, 2021 - 10:18 AM


The number of people who quit their jobs hit a record in September, according to data released by the Department of Labor on Friday.

Some 4.4 million workers quit their jobs in September, up from a previous record of 4.3 million in August. The quantity of people quitting is the highest since the United States began keeping records of the statistic about two decades ago. The figure is equivalent to about 3% of the country’s labor force.



The rate measures the number of people who voluntarily left their jobs and includes those who left their job for another one and people who quit and are confident they will soon find new employment, given the tight labor market.

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“As result of many changes caused by the pandemic, many employers will need to continue to consider raising wages and improving working conditions, such as providing more flexibility, as they attempt to attract and retain workers,” said Bankrate senior economic analyst Mark Hamrick. “This remains an opportune time for people to look for employment while demand for workers remains high. For many employers, the struggle continues.”

The new data highlight the fears that businesses across the country have had about acquiring and holding on to workers.

The number of job openings was essentially steady from the month before, with about 10.4 million openings in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. Job openings increased by the largest margin in the healthcare and social assistance space followed by state and local government (excluding education). Openings in wholesale trade and information spaces also increased.

Job openings decreased in education and the real estate industry. The layoffs and discharges rate was unchanged in September, registering at nearly 1%.

While the economy added 531,000 new jobs in October, more than expected, the U.S. is still millions of jobs short of where it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic when unemployment was at a record 3.5%.

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