A record 4.5 million American workers quit their jobs in November as part of what economists are calling the “Great Resignation.” But while Americans are quitting their jobs in droves, certain types of jobs are responsible for the lion’s share of departures.
The Numbers
The latest monthly round of resignations coincided with the discovery of the omicron variant of COVID-19. The total number of resignations increased 8.9 percent month-over-month in November, according to the Labor Department. The U.S. job openings rate now stands at 6.6 percent, up from 4.5 percent a year ago.Many of the resignations may be triggered by frustration over inflation. In December, wages grew 4.8 percent, but CPI inflation of 6.8 percent more than offset those gains.
