Special Report

The State Where the Most People Are Quitting Their Jobs

Cecilie_Arcurs / E+ via Getty Images

In what has been dubbed the Great Resignation, Americans have been quitting their jobs in record numbers in recent months – a trend that shows few signs of slowing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some 4.3 million Americans quit their job in January 2022, down only slightly from an all time high of 4.5 million quits in November.

Broad explanations for the high quit rates are varied. According to a survey by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, some of the main reasons for workers quitting are unmanageable workloads, unsupportive colleagues, and lack of professional development. Often, however, the reasons are as simple as the desire for higher pay or more benefits – and many employers, large and small, are now raising wages in an effort to keep workers on staff. This is the industry people are quitting the fastest

Whatever the explanation, the consequences are clear. Record-high quits are exacerbating a labor shortage in the United States and creating an existential crisis for many small businesses. And in some states, quit rates are far higher than the national average. 

Using data from the BLS, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where the most people are quitting their job. States are ranked by the number of people who quit in January 2022 as a share of total employment. 

Depending on the state, the share of workers who quit their jobs in January, the most recent month of available data, ranges from 1.9% to 4.4%. For context, 2.8% of workers nationwide quit their jobs in January. 

Though there are exceptions, states with higher January unemployment rate than the 4.0% national rate tend to have lower quit rates. Since quits do not include workers who retire, each of the 4.3 million Americans who quit in January will presumably take another job. A weaker job market, therefore, may act as a deterrent to those who consider quitting in some parts of the country, while a stronger job market may encourage some workers. Here is a look at the worst states to look for a job.

Click here to see the state where the most people are quitting their jobs
Click here to read our detailed methodology

TomasSereda / iStock via Getty Images

50. New York
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 1.9% of workforce (174,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +52.6% (60,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 9,392,186 people

[in-text-ad]

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

49. Massachusetts
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.1% of workforce (77,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +18.5% (12,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,767,170 people

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

48. Connecticut
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.2% of workforce (36,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +33.3% (9,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,867,354 people

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

47. Rhode Island
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.3% of workforce (11,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +22.2% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 568,798 people

[in-text-ad-2]

Davel5957 / E+ via Getty Images

46. Minnesota
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.3% of workforce (66,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +29.4% (15,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,045,921 people

Alex Potemkin / E+ via Getty Images

45. Pennsylvania
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.3% of workforce (134,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +31.4% (32,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 6,371,387 people

[in-text-ad]

virsuziglis / iStock via Getty Images

44. Maine
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.4% of workforce (15,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +15.4% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 679,523 people

JamesBrey / iStock via Getty Images

43. Wisconsin
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.4% of workforce (71,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +14.5% (9,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,136,984 people

SEASTOCK / iStock via Getty Images

42. Washington
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.5% of workforce (87,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +27.9% (19,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,961,146 people

[in-text-ad-2]

ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

41. New Jersey
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.5% of workforce (103,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +25.6% (21,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 4,643,011 people

TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

40. Kansas
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.6% of workforce (36,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +16.1% (5,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,495,643 people

[in-text-ad]

f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

39. Missouri
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.6% of workforce (76,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +7.0% (5,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,075,707 people

JaySi / iStock via Getty Images

38. Illinois
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.6% of workforce (154,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +26.2% (32,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 6,378,180 people

AlbertPego / iStock via Getty Images

37. Vermont
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.7% of workforce (8,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +33.3% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 329,312 people

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

36. New Hampshire
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.7% of workforce (18,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +50.0% (6,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 755,554 people

dangarneau / iStock via Getty Images

35. Iowa
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.7% of workforce (42,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +20.0% (7,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,680,376 people

[in-text-ad]

DutcherAerials / E+ via Getty Images

34. California
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.7% of workforce (469,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +60.6% (177,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 19,064,484 people

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

33. Maryland
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.8% of workforce (75,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +50.0% (25,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,196,404 people

littleny / iStock via Getty Images

32. Florida
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.8% of workforce (258,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +13.7% (31,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 10,448,456 people

[in-text-ad-2]

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

31. South Dakota
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.9% of workforce (13,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +18.2% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 470,653 people

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

30. Arkansas
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.9% of workforce (38,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +11.8% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,334,885 people

[in-text-ad]

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

29. North Carolina
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.9% of workforce (135,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +8.0% (10,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 5,007,262 people

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

28. Ohio
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 2.9% of workforce (155,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +15.7% (21,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 5,743,557 people

RichLegg / iStock via Getty Images

27. Utah
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.0% of workforce (50,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +22.0% (9,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,694,020 people

[in-text-ad-2]

JamesBrey / iStock via Getty Images

26. Oregon
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.0% of workforce (58,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +18.4% (9,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,168,038 people

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

25. New Mexico
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.1% of workforce (26,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +44.4% (8,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 944,607 people

[in-text-ad]

Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

24. Nebraska
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.1% of workforce (31,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +19.2% (5,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,056,346 people

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

23. Virginia
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.1% of workforce (125,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +45.3% (39,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 4,277,757 people

Barbara Smyers / iStock via Getty Images

22. Texas
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.1% of workforce (406,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +24.5% (80,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 14,333,602 people

[in-text-ad-2]

okimo / iStock via Getty Images

21. Hawaii
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.2% of workforce (19,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +58.3% (7,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 673,681 people

Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

20. North Dakota
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.3% of workforce (14,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +27.3% (3,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 408,079 people

[in-text-ad]

ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

19. Delaware
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.3% of workforce (15,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +15.4% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 498,193 people

f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

18. Nevada
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.3% of workforce (47,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +9.3% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,493,864 people

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

17. Oklahoma
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.3% of workforce (54,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +5.9% (3,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,850,630 people

[in-text-ad-2]

felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images

16. Louisiana
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.3% of workforce (62,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.3%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +24.0% (12,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,069,163 people

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

15. Kentucky
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.3% of workforce (64,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: -3.0% (2,000 fewer quits)
> Labor force size: 2,053,986 people

[in-text-ad]

ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images

14. Alabama
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.3% of workforce (68,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +36.0% (18,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,250,379 people

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

13. Indiana
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.3% of workforce (105,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.4%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +41.9% (31,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,304,953 people

JaySi / iStock via Getty Images

12. Michigan
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.3% of workforce (143,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.9%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +45.9% (45,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 4,795,240 people

[in-text-ad-2]

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

11. Colorado
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.4% of workforce (96,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +39.1% (27,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,187,417 people

Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

10. Arizona
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.4% of workforce (104,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +57.6% (38,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,536,384 people

[in-text-ad]

Paola Giannoni / iStock via Getty Images

9. Wyoming
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.5% of workforce (10,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.8%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +11.1% (1,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 290,122 people

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

8. West Virginia
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.5% of workforce (24,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.1%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +20.0% (4,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 793,302 people

vkbhat / E+ via Getty Images

7. Idaho
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.5% of workforce (28,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.0%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +21.7% (5,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 924,469 people

[in-text-ad-2]

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

6. South Carolina
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.5% of workforce (77,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +18.5% (12,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 2,374,682 people

Barry Richards / iStock via Getty Images

5. Tennessee
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.5% of workforce (110,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.5%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +32.5% (27,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 3,346,422 people

[in-text-ad]

skodonnell / iStock via Getty Images

4. Montana
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.6% of workforce (18,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 2.7%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +12.5% (2,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 554,986 people

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

3. Mississippi
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.6% of workforce (42,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 4.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +23.5% (8,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 1,252,236 people

Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

2. Georgia
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 3.7% of workforce (176,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 3.2%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +31.3% (42,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 5,215,701 people

[in-text-ad-2]

Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images

1. Alaska
> Quits in Jan. 2022: 4.4% of workforce (14,000 total quits)
> Jan. 2022 unemployment: 5.6%
> 1-year change in number of workers who quit: +7.7% (1,000 more quits)
> Labor force size: 361,290 people

Methodology

To determine the states where the most people are quitting their jobs, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. States are ranked by the quit rate – the number of people who quit in January 2022 as a share of total employment. For states with the same quit rate, ties were broken by the actual number of quits. 

Figures on unemployment and labor force size, which includes U.S. residents who are either working or actively looking for work, are also from the BLS.

Sponsored: Attention Savvy Investors: Speak to 3 Financial Experts – FREE

Ever wanted an extra set of eyes on an investment you’re considering? Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply
clicking here
you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help guide you through the financial decisions you’re making. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.


Click here
to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.