Over the course of 2021, more than 47 million people quit their jobs, representing 23% of the total U.S. workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). And in 2022, roughly 38 million more quit.
Employers hired a record 76.4 million people and laid off the fewest on record, 16.8 million, in 2022, according to JOLTS data.
The Great Resignation isn't just a hypothetical idea; it's an economic movement backed up by statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Between April 2021 through April 2022, 71.6 million people separated from their jobs, which averaged 3.98 million people quitting each month.
How are the pioneers of the Great Resignation doing? One – admittedly very small – survey this year suggested 80% regretted their decision; another last year highlighted a similar percentage (72%) who experienced regret or surprise after quitting for a different job.
A recent survey showed that 80 percent of Great Resignation quitters regret their decision. Though many people left for better work-life balance and mental health, only about half of respondents were satisfied with these things in their new roles.
For instance, you can plan to explain that your previous work environment wasn't a strong fit culturally to signify that you're seeking an organization with better alignment. Alternatively, you may explain that you didn't have the room to grow in your role depending on the exact questions hiring managers ask.
Quitting may seem like the best solution, but decisions made in haste aren't always the best ones. Go home, calm down, think it through, and wait at least 24 hours to be sure you really want to quit right now. Consider if there is anything that could be done to fix the situation and make staying a viable option.
Leaving a job before you've been there for an entire year almost always looks bad on your resume. Great resumes also don't show several years spent bouncing from job to job. It might be worthwhile to wait things out and look elsewhere once your resume is better padded. You can get the changes you want.
Often in most scenarios, it may not be good idea to withdraw your resignation letter after submitting it to your manager. Whatever the final decision may be, take the time to think about all the plans you had made after resigning, and work on seeing those plans come to fruition.
The great resignation in Australia
In Australia, a record number of workers have been leaving their jobs. Job turnover reached 9.5%, the highest level in a decade. The increase in job mobility is highest for women and is often a sign of workers being able to move to better opportunities, roles, and positions.
The Great Resignation is not going anywhere, despite a looming recession. Employees are still quitting in droves, and Gen Z is leading the wave, according to research by LinkedIn.
Industries especially hard-hit are the hospitality sector, including hotels and restaurants; retail establishments; and components of the supply chain like warehouses, fulfillment centers, truck drivers, call centers and delivery services.”
The 'Great Retraining. ' A new Cengage Group report found that people who voluntarily left their jobs during the pandemic are heading into emerging fields like tech.
Waves of constant employee turnover are demoralizing, costly, and kill productivity. Even losing a single employee can cost a company thousands of dollars. When an employee departs for greener pastures, it costs an average of six to nine months of the previous employee's salary to recruit and hire his replacement.
Pay attention to the fiscal year and school calendar
As a result, a substantial number of employees quit their jobs in late January, February, and March of each year. More positions become available at this time of year as employers attempt to fill newly vacant positions.
80% of workers who quit in the 'great resignation' have regrets, according to a new survey. The “Great Regret” is the latest workplace trend to sweep the nation, with the majority of professionals who quit their jobs last year wishing they could get a do-over, according to a new survey.
Don't expend one drop of your precious mojo worrying about answering the question “Were you fired from your last job?” You had already told your boss you were on your way out when he got into a snit and terminated you, so you can perfectly ethically say “No, I quit” in the unlikely event that you should be asked the ...
"Don't use words like quitting or leaving when you tell your boss you're resigning, because they could make your boss feel like it's their fault you're vacating your position. Similarly, avoid phrases like “I've found a better opportunity” or “I've outgrown my position." Instead, let them down easy."
Quiet quitting doesn't actually refer to quitting a job—it means completing one's minimum work requirements without going above and beyond or bringing work home after hours. The quiet quitting trend has been met with mixed reception by business leaders and the media since it went viral in 2022.
Quiet quitting is a way the employee deals with burnout to help alleviate stress. It may also mean they are ready to change positions or may be currently looking for another job. During the Great Resignation, employees started thinking about their careers, salaries and how they are treated at work.
The best-case scenario—and honestly, the most common reaction—is that your boss will accept your resignation with understanding and sincere congratulations. Your manager will be happy to see that you're advancing your career and moving on to something bigger and better.
Feeling disrespected at work
This is an interesting topic but a top reason why employees are leaving their jobs. One key factor in feeling respected at work is belonging. For example, microaggressions, discrimination, and simply feeling included at work are all components of respect.
A mixture of fear and exhilaration
This is probably the most common reaction to the decision to resign. Essentially this is a mixture of the excitement and anticipation that comes with the thought of a better future or career and the fear that you are leaving behind the familiarity of the old job.
The negative feelings the brain can cycle through after quitting can be significant, with shame, guilt, fear and a sense of failure all common reactions. Two common responses are spiralling anxiety over whether quitting is the right decision, or freezing with fear at the thought of moving forward into an unknown future ...