Record 4.5 Million Americans Quit Their Jobs in November
AllSides Summary
A record 4.5 million U.S. workers quit their jobs in November — 370,000 more than the previous month — according to a Labor Department report released Tuesday.
The report, based on the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), noted that other kinds of job separations, such as layoffs, remained relatively unchanged. Job openings decreased by 529,000 to 10.6 million — capping off a sharp yearly increase from November 2020’s 6.7 million openings. New monthly hires remained relatively unchanged at 6.7 million across all industries.
Headlines were unusually consistent, with most outlets using close variations of “a record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November.” Outlets across the spectrum connected the story to the “Great Resignation.” Coverage differed on interpreting the numbers positively or negatively; the Washington Post (Lean Left) described the economy as “one of the most worker-friendly job climates in years,” and Fox Business (Lean Right) said “persistent turmoil in the labor market has made it difficult for employers to fill open positions.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
More workers quit than ever as U.S. job openings remain near a record.
The number of Americans quitting their jobs is the highest on record, as workers take advantage of strong employer demand to pursue better opportunities.
Yet despite that leverage, an overwhelming majority of Americans say they are worried about inflation — and most say their pay isn’t keeping up with rising prices.
That contrast — evident in survey results released on Tuesday — underscores the strange, contradictory moment facing the U.S. economy after two years of pandemic-induced disruptions.
For some workers, particularly at the lower end of the pay scale, the...
From the Center
Record 4.5 Million Americans Quit Jobs In November As Employers Struggle To Retain Workers
Though the number of job openings fell more than expected in November, the number of Americans quitting their jobs jumped to record territory, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday, further illustrating the struggle employers are facing in filling—and retaining—jobs during the pandemic.
The number of people quitting their jobs in November jumped to a record-high 4.5 million—surpassing the previous record of 4.4 million, set in September, according to the Labor Department’s job openings and labor turnover report.
The quits rate increased to 3%, matching the series high in September, with...
From the Right
Number of people quitting jobs hits another all-time high
The number of people leaving the workforce hit a new record in November, according to data released Tuesday by the Department of Labor.
About 4.5 million workers quit their jobs in November, up from 4.2 million the month before. The number is the highest since the United States began keeping records of the statistic about two decades ago. The figure is equivalent to about 3% of the workforce.
The so-called quits rate measures the number of people who voluntarily left their jobs and includes those who left their previous employment for another job and people...
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