Workers quit at record rates: 5 states take the lead

Before the holidays, Americans quit their jobs at record rates. But this trend was not evenly spread out through the country. According to new government data, employees in certain states handed in their resignations at a much higher rate than in other states and the national average. 

The government said earlier this month that in November, around 4.5 million people quit their jobs, which was an all-time high. But on Friday the Labor Department provided a state-by-state breakdown of where workers are quitting the most. The data shows that 22 states experienced an increase in the quits rate in November and only 2 states saw a decline in worker resignations. The states with the highest quits rates are also the ones with a tight labor market and low unemployment rates. This is the exact combination that's causing employers to dangle incentives like higher wages and better benefits to lure new workers. Employers have been trying to fill in vacant positions while trying to already retain existing employees. It's all part of a phenomenon called The Great Resignation, which is marled by large numbers of workers leaving their current jobs for a number of reasons.

Economist Liz Wilke says, "Part of what is driving the quits rate is it's not that common to get an increase from their current employer  — it's more common that you leave your employer for a better deal." Below are the states with the highest quits rates in November: