Workers are quitting—or at least changing jobs. Here are the states where it’s happening most.
American workers quit their jobs in record numbers last year. By the end of November 2021, 4.5 million workers had quit, topping the record for the previous two months, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Who is quitting? Some say this so-called “Great Resignation” is more about workers moving to new jobs, such as lower-wage workers switching to better jobs in industries where they can make more money, especially leisure and hospitality workers. There’s also been a moderate surge in early retirements in the pandemic, according to the Atlantic.
The largest increases in resignations were in accommodation and food services (+159,000,) health care and social assistance (+52,000,) and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+33,000.) The “quits rate,” as the BLS calls it, increased to 3% nationally in November
From state to state, the rate at which people quit their jobs varies. Alaska was highest in November, at 3.8%, while New York was lowest, at 2%. Here’s a look at the states where workers are quitting the most. The ranking is by WalletHub, using the BLS data.
1. Alaska
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 5.20%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.80% (through Nov. 2021)
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2. Wyoming
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 4.70%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.22%
3. Georgia
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.90%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.59%
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4. Kentucky
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.80%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.42%
5. Montana
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.90%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.25%
6. North Dakota
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 4.00%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.01%
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7. New Hampshire
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 4.20%Resignation rate, 12 months: 2.64%
8. Vermont
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 4.20%Resignation rate, 12 months: 2.62%
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9. North Carolina
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.60%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.22%
10. Maine
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 4.00%Resignation rate, 12 months: 2.62%
11. South Carolina
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.50%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.17%
12. West Virginia
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.30%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.18%
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13. Delaware
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.40%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.04%
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14. Nevada
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 2.80%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.75%
15. Indiana
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.30%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.10%
16. Mississippi
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.10%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.34%
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17. Idaho
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.20%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.19%
18. Louisiana
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.20%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.17%
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19. Alabama
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.30%Resignation rate, 12 months: 2.94%
20. Arkansas
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.10%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.06%
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21. Colorado
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.00%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.18%
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22. Arizona
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.00%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.10%
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23. Tennessee
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.00%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.03%
24. Oklahoma
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.00%Resignation rate, 12 months: 3.02%
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25. Florida
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.00%Resignation rate, 12 months: 2.91%
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26. Rhode Island
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.20%Resignation rate, 12 months: 2.57%
27. Utah
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.00%Resignation rate, 12 months: 2.81%
28. Illinois
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.00%Resignation rate, 12 months: 2.79%
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29. Wisconsin
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 3.10%Resignation rate, 12 months: 2.65%
30. Oregon
Resignation rate, Nov. 2021: 2.80%Resignation rate, 12 months: 2.98%
See the full ranking of all 50 states and D.C. at WalletHub.
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