Many companies featured on Money advertise with us. Opinions are our own, but compensation and
in-depth research may determine where and how companies appear. Learn more about how we make money.

Published: Oct 25, 2021 3 min read
Group of young adults walking on top of a United States Map where Georgia, Illinois and Kentucky State are highlighted
Money; Getty Images

Workers across the country are quitting their jobs in what's being called the "Great Resignation." But some states are getting the lion's share of workers waving goodbye.

Georgia, Illinois and Kentucky saw the biggest jump in the number of quits between July and August of this year, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Georgia saw around 35,000 more people quitting in August compared to July, while Illinois saw around 32,000 more and Kentucky, 26,000 more. Across the country, the number of quits increased by 242,000 between the two months, with record 4.3 million quits in August. Before the pandemic, that number was around 3.5 million per month.

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdAds by Money disclaimer
Get a Free Resume Review and start a new chapter today
A Resume Builder can not only help improve your resume, but also match it with your career goals. Click on your state to get started.
HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas
GET STARTED

As a result, the U.S. is currently facing a record labor shortage, with millions of job openings. Throughout 2021, employers have been frantically trying to fill roles. Many companies, particularly those affected by ongoing issues with the global supply chain — are kicking hiring efforts into high gear going into the holiday season. Employers are offering free college tuition and child-care benefits, on top of more money and flexibility. Some, like Amazon, are eliminating drug tests in order to fill positions. More than 10% of seasonal jobs postings on the hiring site Indeed.com noted in the description that hiring was “urgent,” up from 1% the year before.

So, why is everyone quitting?

Across industries, employees are at the end of their ropes: 35% of men and 42% of women say they are burned out, according to a recent study from McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org. Many workers in fields that require being face-to-face with the public every day—like health care, retail and hospitality jobs— are quitting their jobs in droves at a particularly rapid clip.

Hires are also down in 17 states, according to the most recent BLS data. The largest slumps were in Illinois, which saw 115,000 fewer hires in August than July, New Jersey, which saw 36,000 fewer hires, and Ohio, which saw 31,000 fewer hires. The number of hirings fell by 439,000 nationally during that time period.

Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.AdAds by Money disclaimer
Open more doors with a Resume Builder
Your resume is one of your most important career tools. TopResume carefully crafts your career story to target the job that you want to land. Click below to get started.
Get Started

More from Money:

5 Jobs With Hiring Bonuses of $1,000 or More

Colleges Are in Dire Need of Cafeteria Workers. So One Is Asking Professors to Cover Shifts

This Could Be the Best Year Ever to Get a Seasonal Job