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
- 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.
- Labor force participation dropped to 61.7% in Oct 2021.
- GDP growth boosted by consumer spending from job switchers.
- Hiring rate reached 5.1% in Nov 2021, highest since 2001.
- Small businesses reported 30% higher vacancy rates in 2021.
- Inflation rose to 7% partly from labor shortages.
- Productivity per worker fell 1.3% in Q4 2021 amid turnover.
- Corporate profits up 23% in 2021 despite quit wave.
- Gig economy participation rose 15% as quits alternative.
- Unemployment duration shortened to 18.5 weeks average.
- 2.7 million new businesses started in 2021 record.
- Consumer confidence index hit 115.9 in Nov 2021.
- Labor share of income increased 1.2% due to bargaining power.
- Quitters saw 20% wage premium in new roles average.
- Job-to-job transitions up 50% from 2020 levels.
- Regional quits highest in South at 4.5% rate.
- Midwest hiring lagged, with 4.8M openings end 2021.
- West region quits rate 4.3%, driving tech migration.
- Northeast had lowest quits at 3.5% amid urban density.
- Stock market S&P 500 up 27% despite labor turmoil.
- Household savings rate fell to 7.5% as spending rose.
- Prime-age participation gap widened by 1% for men.
- Overtime hours up 10% in manufacturing due to shortages.
- Union membership stable at 10.3% amid quits.
- Remote work jobs grew 159% since pre-pandemic.
- Temp agency employment surged 20% in 2021.
- Early retirements added 1 million to non-participation.
Broader 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
- 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.
- Gen Z workers (18-24) had quit rates 1.5 times higher than average.
- Black workers' quit rate reached 4.8% in November 2021.
- 40% of hybrid workers planned to quit within a year in 2021 surveys.
- Parents with young children quit 30% more frequently in 2021.
- College-educated workers quit at 3.5% rate vs. 2.5% for non-college.
- Urban workers quit 15% more than rural counterparts in 2021.
- Baby Boomers (55+) had the lowest quit rate at 1.1% in 2021.
- Hispanic workers comprised 22% of quits despite 18% workforce share.
- Remote-eligible workers were 2x more likely to quit in 2021.
- Low-wage workers (<$40k) quit rates hit 6.5% peak.
- Asian workers quit rate was 3.2% average in 2021.
- Single workers without children quit 25% more than married.
- Frontline workers quit at 5.1% vs. 2.9% for office-based.
- 25-34 age group drove 35% of total quits in 2021.
- White workers quit rate was 3.9%, slightly below national average.
- Workers with disabilities quit 10% higher due to accommodations issues.
- Veterans' quit rate matched national average at 4.0% in late 2021.
- LGBTQ+ workers reported 28% intent to quit in 2021 polls.
- Immigrants (non-citizens) quit at 4.5% rate, higher than natives.
- High-income earners (>$100k) saw 15% quit surge in tech.
- 45% of Gen Z job-hopped twice in 2021.
- Mothers quit 2x rate of fathers in 2021.
- Rural young adults (18-24) quit at 7.2% rate.
- 37% of inadequate health insurance cited by quitters aged 25-34.
Demographic 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
- 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.
- Manufacturing turnover rate hit 3.2% in Q4 2021, driven by Great Resignation trends.
- Tech industry voluntary turnover reached 20% in 2021, highest in a decade.
- Hospitality quit rates were 4 times higher than pre-pandemic in 2021.
- Construction industry saw 600,000 quits in 2021, exacerbating labor shortages.
- Education sector quits rose 15% in 2021, with teachers leaving at record rates.
- Transportation and logistics quits totaled 2.5 million in 2021.
- Finance and insurance voluntary attrition hit 12% in 2021.
- Professional services firms reported 18% turnover in 2021.
- Wholesale trade quits increased 35% YoY in 2021.
- Public administration had the lowest industry quit rate at 1.2% in 2021.
- Food services and drinking places quit rate was 7.5% monthly average in 2021.
- Nursing and residential care facilities saw 150% quit increase from 2020.
- E-commerce retail turnover spiked 40% amid 2021 labor shifts.
- Software publishing quits reached 25% in high-tech hubs in 2021.
- Airlines and accommodation quit rates doubled to 5.8% in 2021.
- Mining and logging had minimal quits at 1.8% rate despite national trends.
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation quits hit 8.2% peak in summer 2021.
- Legal services turnover increased 10% in 2021 due to burnout.
- Automotive repair quits rose 20% amid supply chain issues.
- Real estate sector voluntary exits totaled 400,000 in 2021.
- Publishing industries saw 15% quits, highest in media segment.
- Utilities quit rate stable at 1.5%, bucking national trend.
Industry-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
- 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.
- From January to November 2021, cumulative job quits totaled over 40 million in the US, a 25% increase from 2020.
- Professional and business services saw 943,000 quits in November 2021, accounting for 21% of total US quits that month.
- The national quits rate averaged 3.9% across 2021, up from 2.4% in 2020, marking the highest annual average since 2001.
- In October 2021, 4.4 million Americans quit, with the rate at 3.0%, continuing a nine-month streak above 3%.
- Quits in the retail trade sector reached 1.2 million in November 2021, a 30% year-over-year increase.
- The quits-to-unemployment ratio peaked at 2.0 in late 2021, indicating workers had leverage to quit confidently.
- Monthly quits exceeded 4 million for five consecutive months from July to November 2021.
- Manufacturing quits hit 300,000 in November 2021, up 40% from pre-pandemic levels.
- The quits rate for women rose to 4.0% in November 2021, matching the overall peak.
- Total separations rate reached 5.1% in November 2021, driven largely by quits.
- Construction sector quits totaled 250,000 in Q4 2021, a record quarterly figure.
- Youth quits (ages 16-24) were 12% of total quits in 2021 despite comprising 12% of workforce.
- Quits in healthcare and social assistance hit 1.1 million in November 2021.
- Annual quit rate for full-time workers averaged 2.8% in 2021, up from 1.8% in 2020.
- Government sector quits were lowest at 1.5% rate in 2021, compared to private sector's 4.1%.
- Transportation and warehousing quits reached 500,000 in November 2021.
- Quits rate doubled from 2.1% in March 2020 to 4.2% by November 2021.
- Information sector quits totaled 150,000 in November 2021, up 50% YoY.
- Financial activities quits were 300,000 in Q4 2021 average.
- Educational services quits spiked seasonally but averaged 200,000 monthly in 2021.
- Wholesale trade quits hit 200,000 in November 2021.
- Other services quits totaled 400,000 in November 2021.
- Quits rate for Hispanics/Latinos reached 4.5% in late 2021.
- Federal government quits remained under 20,000 monthly throughout 2021.
- State and local government quits averaged 150,000 monthly in 2021.
- Private service-providing quits dominated with 3.8 million in November 2021.
- Goods-producing sector quits totaled 700,000 in November 2021.
Quit 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
- 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.
- Inadequate compensation motivated 38% to quit in 2021.
- 20% quit specifically for better remote work options.
- Feeling undervalued was top reason for 52% of women quitters.
- Childcare issues led 25% of parental resignations.
- Toxic culture cited by 31% in LinkedIn's 2021 Workplace Learning Report.
- No advancement opportunities for 62% of essential workers who quit.
- Health concerns post-COVID drove 15% quits in healthcare.
- Flexibility desires up 2x, cited by 27% quitters.
- Manager quality lacking for 50% of voluntary turnovers.
- Better pay offers pulled 40% to new jobs.
- Mental health support absence for 23% quitters.
- Commute fatigue ended for 18% who quit for remote roles.
- DEI shortcomings motivated 19% minority quits.
- Overwork hours cited by 29% in tech sector.
- Pandemic reevaluation led 48% to change careers.
- Poor benefits packages for 33% low-wage quitters.
- Lack of recognition for 41% Gen Z resignations.
- Vaccine mandates prompted 12% quits in public sector.
- Boredom with role for 22% mid-career quits.
- Family priorities overtook work for 17% parents.
- Inflexible return-to-office for 25% tech quits.
- Harassment or discrimination for 14% women.
- Skill mismatch post-training for 16% quits.
- Job insecurity fears eased, enabling 30% quits.
Reasons 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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