Where US workers are leaving jobs at record rates

Workers in the US resigned from a record 4.4 million jobs in September. Many Americans are leaving roles for better working conditions and pay in the midst of a historically rapid economic recovery.

However, the wave of resignations is not uniform across the country. According to the Department of Labor, western states, including Hawaii, Montana, Utah and Oregon, saw the biggest increases in September. Eighteen states broke or tied their record of resigning in September.

Industries experiencing high turnover rates left jobs in the western US in September, and several northeastern states saw more rapid growth from earlier this year. The number of job losses in the education sector – which accounts for a large part of employment in the northeastern states – grew at the fastest pace of any industry since January. Reopening deadlines and vaccination rates have also helped boost employer demand for workers in the Northeast this year.

The arts, entertainment, and entertainment sectors in Montana account for the nation’s largest share of employment, which includes jobs in museums, theaters, and amusement parks. The state reported the second fastest growth in the US behind Hawaii in September, when arts, entertainment and entertainment experienced a sharp 82 percent increase compared to a month earlier. Workers’ resignations also rose rapidly in other Western states with a relative abundance of employees in the arts, including Utah, Colorado and Nevada.

Job openings in the Northeast grew at the fastest rate since January, following a struggle in the region’s labor market during 2020. The New York area was among the first in the US to be hit by the pandemic, and leaders in the northeastern states imposed strict trade restrictions. restrictions and left them longer than in many other areas. Several northeastern states fully reopened their economies this summer, and saw relatively high rates of vaccinations — factors that converged to fuel strong employer demand for workers.

As job opportunities increased, leaving a job became a more attractive option for Northeast workers. Some of the states in the region, including New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, have seen the fastest growth in the US since January. Those individuals are more likely to leave their jobs for better opportunities, including higher-paying roles, remote-working options, and a better work-life balance.

High dropout rates in a given sector do not always indicate that the labor-market is improving rapidly, however. “The way we’ve discussed so far isn’t about great resignations,” said Seinem Buber, economist at the job site ZipRecruiter. Job opportunities remain depressed despite layoffs. Layoffs in Hawaii have risen recently as the state discouraged tourists from visiting during a surge in delta-virus cases. More people may leave their jobs in Hawaii and some from work may take time off as the pandemic persists, or leave the state altogether. The labor force, or the number of people working or seeking jobs, is down about 1.4% in Hawaii compared to the beginning of the year.

Since January, educational services have grown the most of any industry, including teachers, janitors and guidance counselors. Many teachers have resigned or retired early due to the pandemic. The states with the highest share of jobs in education are concentrated in the Northeast and have also seen the largest percentage increase in job losses since the beginning of this year.

The rapidly increasing resignation is evidence that the labor market has historically been tight. As demand grows, employers are struggling to find workers to fill the multitude of job postings. There are about 10 job opportunities for every seven job seekers.

Businesses are raising wages to attract workers in a competitive market. Private sector wages and salaries grew at a faster pace in the third quarter from a year ago across sectors and were particularly strong in the South.

Many employees who have left their jobs are likely to see a jump in their salaries. Jobseekers see higher pay benefits than those who remain on the job.

subscribe to mint newspaper

, Enter a valid email

, Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter!

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
download
Our App Now!!

,