Since the pandemic, employees have been leaving jobs at record rates. For many, new management and working conditions play a big role in why people are walking away. The number of job openings jumped to over 10 million in June, the highest on record according to the Labor Department. Many companies are having to compete for workers by offering higher pay, bonuses, better benefits, and more accommodating schedules.
The number of Americans leaving their job hit historic highs in 2019 before the pandemic, but quits have been over 3.6 million for each of the last three months. According to Jennifer Liu, “The latest jobs report says 8.7 million Americans are looking for work, meaning there are currently more than 1 million more job openings than people who can fill them. But unemployment numbers don’t capture the millions of people who are misclassified, experienced a pay cut or drop-in hours, or had to stop looking for work altogether.” After being asked why he left his job, Dylan Cornwell says, “I left almost entirely because of new policies that were introduced… When I started there was absolutely no regulation and it was all very relaxed but about two weeks ago the whole job changed… and I needed to leave. We also had another employee leave because of this and another two putting in their notice.” Workers are making decisions to leave based on how their employers were treating them and if they could get higher pay and better working conditions somewhere else. 4 million people quit their jobs in April alone, and studies show that workers in the labor market are coming out with higher wages.
An average of wage growth across the country has increased 1.5% in June, and 5.8% for job switchers, stated by Jennifer Liu. Dylan Cornwell states his opinion on minimum wage and says, “I think minimum wage should absolutely be increased to make life more liveable. An increase in minimum wage wouldn’t only help teenagers buy a new car or clothes, but helps unskilled workers who can’t afford a higher education… actually live life… Our federal minimum wage hasn’t changed in over a decade and the cost of living was much lower in 2009 than 2021… Increasing it would help workers be able to afford housing and bills without working multiple jobs.” Job-switchers are joining employees with at least 500 workers who are making higher gains.
No one can deny the impact these empty jobs have had on the economy and they’ll only keep on raising. Once employers and companies change their working conditions and become more accommodating for the employees, only then will people start working again.
