The Magnitude Of The Great Resignation in 15 Astonishing Numbers

Last year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 4.5 million Americans, or 3% of the entire workforce, quit their jobs in November of 2021.¹

Although shocking at the time, November was just another record-breaking month in a string of record-breaking months. Named "The Great Resignation" by many, this phenomenon can be seen across nearly every industry.

Historically, it's common to see a surge in worker resignations when the job market is tight, and there's a cornucopia of open positions. But what's happening now is unlike anything economists and pollsters have seen before.

As financial and employment experts continue to debate the root causes of this exodus from the workforce, it can be difficult to visualize the full scope of the Great Resignation. Here are some surprising facts that may help:

• 2.9%: the share of the nation's workforce that quit in August 2021
• 4.8%: the U.S. unemployment rate in September, a pandemic low
• 309,000: women 20 and older who dropped out of the workforce in September 2021
• 182,000: men who were added to the workforce in September 2021
• 108,700: drop in the number of child-care workers in September 2021 versus February 2020¹
• 10,400,000 million: unfilled U.S. jobs (Labor Department)¹
• 51%: business owners who said they have jobs openings they can't fill²
• 48%: the share of America's working population actively looking for a job or watching for opportunities³
• 61.6%: labor participation rate in September, versus 63.3 percent in February 2020
• 4,300,000: jobs that have vanished with the pandemic-era decrease in labor participation⁴
• 40%: share of the 4.3 million people who quit in August 2021 from restaurant and hotel jobs⁵
• 930,500: drop-in restaurant and bar jobs in September versus February 2020⁶
• 12.7%: increase in hourly pay at bars and restaurants in August versus February 2020⁷
• 7.3%: increase in the price of restaurant meals in September versus February 2020⁸
• 3.6 million: number of new retirees between February 2020 and June 2021⁸

1. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/01/04/great-resignation-number-people-quitting-jobs-hit-record/9083256002/
2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/10/13/great-resignation-faq-quit-your-job/
3. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/351545/great-resignation-really-great-discontent.aspx
4. https://theweek.com/jobs-numbers/1006060/the-american-great-resignation-by-the-numbers
5. https://theweek.com/jobs-numbers/1006060/the-american-great-resignation-by-the-numbers
6. https://theweek.com/jobs-numbers/1006060/the-american-great-resignation-by-the-numbers
7. https://theweek.com/jobs-numbers/1006060/the-american-great-resignation-by-the-numbers
8. https://theweek.com/jobs-numbers/1006060/the-american-great-resignation-by-the-numbers

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