Why Are A Record Number Of Illinoisans Quitting Their Jobs?

If you haven't already heard the term "The Great Resignation," you probably will in the very near future.

The Great Resignation, also known as "The Big Quit," is a phenomenon of people all over the country deciding to quit their jobs. It got rolling in early Spring of this year, and has picked up steam since then, especially here in Illinois.

An All-Time Record Number Of Illinoisans Quit Their Jobs In August

In August, 210,000 Illinoisans, or roughly 3.5% of workers in the state, decided to call it quits at their current jobs. The strange thing about this mass exodus from jobs in Illinois is that while we set an all-time Illinois record, we're only 7th in the United States in people quitting during the Great Resignation.

According to a piece at IllinoisPolicy.org, the top 5 states in terms of workers walking away from their jobs are these states:

1. Kentucky
2. Georgia
3. Idaho
4. Alaska
5. Indiana

Iowa comes in at #6, while we're at #7 in Illinois. Of the top 7 states leading the nation in resignations, the Midwest accounts for four of those states.

So, What Is Causing The Spike In Illinoisans Giving Their Jobs The Heave-Ho?

A few minutes ago, a co-worker offered his opinion on why we're seeing a vocational mass exodus: "They know they can sit on their butts and still get a good check!"

While that may be true of some of the hundreds of thousands who've quit, it doesn't really explain the situation.

Job opportunities in Illinois are relatively scarce. Illinois is one of only eight states that actually has more unemployed individuals than job openings, according to an Illinois Policy Institute analysis, which means businesses can be less competitive when offering wages or benefits.

The bottom line is that Illinois residents who leave their job aren't doing it to sit around on the dole, but rather to find a better job in a neighboring state.