While the country was busy counting ballots and debating pandemic policies, American workers staged a quiet revolution of their own, with a record-shattering 4.5 million people quitting their jobs in November 2021 alone.
Key Takeaways
- In November 2021, the US quits rate reached 4.2 percent, the highest in over 20 years of data collection, with 4.5 million workers quitting their jobs.
- Total job quits in the US hit a record 4.5 million in November 2021, surpassing previous monthly highs by over 10%.
- The quits rate for leisure and hospitality workers surged to 6.4% in November 2021, more than double the national average.
- Leisure and hospitality recorded the highest quits rate of 6.9% in October 2021.
- Healthcare and social assistance saw 1.9 million quits in the first 11 months of 2021.
- Retail trade experienced a 25% increase in quits YoY, totaling over 5 million in 2021.
- 58% of Americans planned to resign within 3-6 months as of March 2021.
- Millennials (ages 25-40) accounted for 52% of all quits in 2021.
- Women quit at a rate 20% higher than men in early 2021.
- 47% of US workers quit or planned to quit due to burnout in 2021.
- Lack of career development was cited by 43% of quitters in McKinsey survey.
- Poor work-life balance drove 35% of resignations per Gallup poll.
- US unemployment claims fell to 4.2% amid 4.5M quits in Nov 2021.
- Wage growth accelerated to 4.7% YoY by Dec 2021 due to quits.
- Job openings hit record 11 million in Dec 2021.
The Great Resignation saw historic job quits in 2021 as workers sought better opportunities.
Broader Economic Effects
1US unemployment claims fell to 4.2% amid 4.5M quits in Nov 2021.
Verified2Wage growth accelerated to 4.7% YoY by Dec 2021 due to quits.
Verified3Job openings hit record 11 million in Dec 2021.
Verified4Labor force participation dropped to 61.7% in Oct 2021.
Directional5GDP growth boosted by consumer spending from job switchers.
Single source6Hiring rate reached 5.1% in Nov 2021, highest since 2001.
Verified7Small businesses reported 30% higher vacancy rates in 2021.
Verified8Inflation rose to 7% partly from labor shortages.
Verified9Productivity per worker fell 1.3% in Q4 2021 amid turnover.
Directional10Corporate profits up 23% in 2021 despite quit wave.
Single source11Gig economy participation rose 15% as quits alternative.
Verified12Unemployment duration shortened to 18.5 weeks average.
Verified132.7 million new businesses started in 2021 record.
Verified14Consumer confidence index hit 115.9 in Nov 2021.
Directional15Labor share of income increased 1.2% due to bargaining power.
Single source16Quitters saw 20% wage premium in new roles average.
Verified17Job-to-job transitions up 50% from 2020 levels.
Verified18Regional quits highest in South at 4.5% rate.
Verified19Midwest hiring lagged, with 4.8M openings end 2021.
Directional20West region quits rate 4.3%, driving tech migration.
Single source21Northeast had lowest quits at 3.5% amid urban density.
Verified22Stock market S&P 500 up 27% despite labor turmoil.
Verified23Household savings rate fell to 7.5% as spending rose.
Verified24Prime-age participation gap widened by 1% for men.
Directional25Overtime hours up 10% in manufacturing due to shortages.
Single source26Union membership stable at 10.3% amid quits.
Verified27Remote work jobs grew 159% since pre-pandemic.
Verified28Temp agency employment surged 20% in 2021.
Verified29Early retirements added 1 million to non-participation.
DirectionalBroader Economic Effects Interpretation
The American worker, in a masterful act of collective rebellion, finally told their boss to shove it, which, in a deliciously chaotic twist, wound up boosting wages, corporate profits, stock prices, inflation, and their own blood pressure from all that overtime.
Demographic Trends
158% of Americans planned to resign within 3-6 months as of March 2021.
Verified2Millennials (ages 25-40) accounted for 52% of all quits in 2021.
Verified3Women quit at a rate 20% higher than men in early 2021.
Verified4Gen Z workers (18-24) had quit rates 1.5 times higher than average.
Directional5Black workers' quit rate reached 4.8% in November 2021.
Single source640% of hybrid workers planned to quit within a year in 2021 surveys.
Verified7Parents with young children quit 30% more frequently in 2021.
Verified8College-educated workers quit at 3.5% rate vs. 2.5% for non-college.
Verified9Urban workers quit 15% more than rural counterparts in 2021.
Directional10Baby Boomers (55+) had the lowest quit rate at 1.1% in 2021.
Single source11Hispanic workers comprised 22% of quits despite 18% workforce share.
Verified12Remote-eligible workers were 2x more likely to quit in 2021.
Verified13Low-wage workers (<$40k) quit rates hit 6.5% peak.
Verified14Asian workers quit rate was 3.2% average in 2021.
Directional15Single workers without children quit 25% more than married.
Single source16Frontline workers quit at 5.1% vs. 2.9% for office-based.
Verified1725-34 age group drove 35% of total quits in 2021.
Verified18White workers quit rate was 3.9%, slightly below national average.
Verified19Workers with disabilities quit 10% higher due to accommodations issues.
Directional20Veterans' quit rate matched national average at 4.0% in late 2021.
Single source21LGBTQ+ workers reported 28% intent to quit in 2021 polls.
Verified22Immigrants (non-citizens) quit at 4.5% rate, higher than natives.
Verified23High-income earners (>$100k) saw 15% quit surge in tech.
Verified2445% of Gen Z job-hopped twice in 2021.
Directional25Mothers quit 2x rate of fathers in 2021.
Single source26Rural young adults (18-24) quit at 7.2% rate.
Verified2737% of inadequate health insurance cited by quitters aged 25-34.
VerifiedDemographic Trends Interpretation
It appears America’s workforce collectively decided that the traditional job was a bad roommate: Millennials led the eviction notice, women handled the paperwork, Gen Z simply ghosted, and parents—especially mothers—said “the childcare isn’t included in the rent.”
Industry-Specific Impacts
1Leisure and hospitality recorded the highest quits rate of 6.9% in October 2021.
Verified2Healthcare and social assistance saw 1.9 million quits in the first 11 months of 2021.
Verified3Retail trade experienced a 25% increase in quits YoY, totaling over 5 million in 2021.
Verified4Manufacturing turnover rate hit 3.2% in Q4 2021, driven by Great Resignation trends.
Directional5Tech industry voluntary turnover reached 20% in 2021, highest in a decade.
Single source6Hospitality quit rates were 4 times higher than pre-pandemic in 2021.
Verified7Construction industry saw 600,000 quits in 2021, exacerbating labor shortages.
Verified8Education sector quits rose 15% in 2021, with teachers leaving at record rates.
Verified9Transportation and logistics quits totaled 2.5 million in 2021.
Directional10Finance and insurance voluntary attrition hit 12% in 2021.
Single source11Professional services firms reported 18% turnover in 2021.
Verified12Wholesale trade quits increased 35% YoY in 2021.
Verified13Public administration had the lowest industry quit rate at 1.2% in 2021.
Verified14Food services and drinking places quit rate was 7.5% monthly average in 2021.
Directional15Nursing and residential care facilities saw 150% quit increase from 2020.
Single source16E-commerce retail turnover spiked 40% amid 2021 labor shifts.
Verified17Software publishing quits reached 25% in high-tech hubs in 2021.
Verified18Airlines and accommodation quit rates doubled to 5.8% in 2021.
Verified19Mining and logging had minimal quits at 1.8% rate despite national trends.
Directional20Arts, entertainment, and recreation quits hit 8.2% peak in summer 2021.
Single source21Legal services turnover increased 10% in 2021 due to burnout.
Verified22Automotive repair quits rose 20% amid supply chain issues.
Verified23Real estate sector voluntary exits totaled 400,000 in 2021.
Verified24Publishing industries saw 15% quits, highest in media segment.
Directional25Utilities quit rate stable at 1.5%, bucking national trend.
Single sourceIndustry-Specific Impacts Interpretation
Amid this unprecedented exodus of workers, it seems everyone from the weary bartender to the burned-out software engineer collectively decided to trade in their lousy bosses and burnout for a chance to finally see what their family looks like and what their own potential might be.
Quit Rates and Turnover
1In November 2021, the US quits rate reached 4.2 percent, the highest in over 20 years of data collection, with 4.5 million workers quitting their jobs.
Verified2Total job quits in the US hit a record 4.5 million in November 2021, surpassing previous monthly highs by over 10%.
Verified3The quits rate for leisure and hospitality workers surged to 6.4% in November 2021, more than double the national average.
Verified4From January to November 2021, cumulative job quits totaled over 40 million in the US, a 25% increase from 2020.
Directional5Professional and business services saw 943,000 quits in November 2021, accounting for 21% of total US quits that month.
Single source6The national quits rate averaged 3.9% across 2021, up from 2.4% in 2020, marking the highest annual average since 2001.
Verified7In October 2021, 4.4 million Americans quit, with the rate at 3.0%, continuing a nine-month streak above 3%.
Verified8Quits in the retail trade sector reached 1.2 million in November 2021, a 30% year-over-year increase.
Verified9The quits-to-unemployment ratio peaked at 2.0 in late 2021, indicating workers had leverage to quit confidently.
Directional10Monthly quits exceeded 4 million for five consecutive months from July to November 2021.
Single source11Manufacturing quits hit 300,000 in November 2021, up 40% from pre-pandemic levels.
Verified12The quits rate for women rose to 4.0% in November 2021, matching the overall peak.
Verified13Total separations rate reached 5.1% in November 2021, driven largely by quits.
Verified14Construction sector quits totaled 250,000 in Q4 2021, a record quarterly figure.
Directional15Youth quits (ages 16-24) were 12% of total quits in 2021 despite comprising 12% of workforce.
Single source16Quits in healthcare and social assistance hit 1.1 million in November 2021.
Verified17Annual quit rate for full-time workers averaged 2.8% in 2021, up from 1.8% in 2020.
Verified18Government sector quits were lowest at 1.5% rate in 2021, compared to private sector's 4.1%.
Verified19Transportation and warehousing quits reached 500,000 in November 2021.
Directional20Quits rate doubled from 2.1% in March 2020 to 4.2% by November 2021.
Single source21Information sector quits totaled 150,000 in November 2021, up 50% YoY.
Verified22Financial activities quits were 300,000 in Q4 2021 average.
Verified23Educational services quits spiked seasonally but averaged 200,000 monthly in 2021.
Verified24Wholesale trade quits hit 200,000 in November 2021.
Directional25Other services quits totaled 400,000 in November 2021.
Single source26Quits rate for Hispanics/Latinos reached 4.5% in late 2021.
Verified27Federal government quits remained under 20,000 monthly throughout 2021.
Verified28State and local government quits averaged 150,000 monthly in 2021.
Verified29Private service-providing quits dominated with 3.8 million in November 2021.
Directional30Goods-producing sector quits totaled 700,000 in November 2021.
Single sourceQuit Rates and Turnover Interpretation
America witnessed a workforce uprising, where 40 million resignation slips in 2021 served as collective two-week notices to a bygone era of business-as-usual, proving that the "labor market" finally meant the workers held the leverage.
Reasons for Resignation
147% of US workers quit or planned to quit due to burnout in 2021.
Verified2Lack of career development was cited by 43% of quitters in McKinsey survey.
Verified3Poor work-life balance drove 35% of resignations per Gallup poll.
Verified4Inadequate compensation motivated 38% to quit in 2021.
Directional520% quit specifically for better remote work options.
Single source6Feeling undervalued was top reason for 52% of women quitters.
Verified7Childcare issues led 25% of parental resignations.
Verified8Toxic culture cited by 31% in LinkedIn's 2021 Workplace Learning Report.
Verified9No advancement opportunities for 62% of essential workers who quit.
Directional10Health concerns post-COVID drove 15% quits in healthcare.
Single source11Flexibility desires up 2x, cited by 27% quitters.
Verified12Manager quality lacking for 50% of voluntary turnovers.
Verified13Better pay offers pulled 40% to new jobs.
Verified14Mental health support absence for 23% quitters.
Directional15Commute fatigue ended for 18% who quit for remote roles.
Single source16DEI shortcomings motivated 19% minority quits.
Verified17Overwork hours cited by 29% in tech sector.
Verified18Pandemic reevaluation led 48% to change careers.
Verified19Poor benefits packages for 33% low-wage quitters.
Directional20Lack of recognition for 41% Gen Z resignations.
Single source21Vaccine mandates prompted 12% quits in public sector.
Verified22Boredom with role for 22% mid-career quits.
Verified23Family priorities overtook work for 17% parents.
Verified24Inflexible return-to-office for 25% tech quits.
Directional25Harassment or discrimination for 14% women.
Single source26Skill mismatch post-training for 16% quits.
Verified27Job insecurity fears eased, enabling 30% quits.
VerifiedReasons for Resignation Interpretation
The Great Resignation was less a unified revolt and more a chorus of individual ultimatums, revealing that while a better paycheck is a powerful lure, the true cost of staying was a toxic blend of burnout, stalled careers, and a profound lack of respect for people's time, lives, and basic dignity.
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