15 Reasons Everyone's Quitting Their Job

You've probably heard of the "Great Resignation" by now. This is the phenomenon of millions of Americans quitting their jobs in the wake of the pandemic. There's never been a movement quite like it.

Egged on by a cultural shift, unique economic pressures, and rising wages, Americans are saying "take this job and shove it" and finding new opportunities like never before.

Keep reading to see 15 reasons why so many Americans are quitting their jobs.

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Signs of staff and labor shortages have become commonplace around the country. Businesses like restaurants and retailers are struggling to fully staff their locations, and some have even resorted to cutting hours because they can't support their usual schedule.

Against that backdrop, a lot of employers are raising wages and offering signing bonuses for new employees to entice them to come work. That's led many Americans to switch jobs to take advantage of the bonuses and higher pay.

ALSO READ: Is This the Answer for Companies Facing a Labor Shortage?

YOLO -- you only live once -- has become a mantra for young Americans. It's a calling to live life to the fullest and take advantage of the opportunities in front of you.

The pandemic was a reminder of how fragile life can be. Not only were Americans cooped up for several weeks at the start of the crisis, but millions got sick and many lost close friends and family members.

The pandemic represents a cultural watershed that convinced some Americans to pursue their dreams rather than working for an hourly wage and prompted many of them to quit their jobs in response to the once-in-a-lifetime cultural and economic shock.

After multiple stimulus checks and other government handouts, as well as two years of hunkering down and avoiding spending on things like travel, Americans are flush with cash.

By the first quarter of this year, Americans had accumulated $2.5 trillion in excess savings from the pandemic. Many have more money in their bank accounts than ever before, and that's giving them confidence to quit their jobs and find something more fulfilling in life.

While inflation is pinching consumers on things like rent, food, and gas, wages are also rising faster than they ever have, making it a good time to jump ship if you're looking for better pay.

It's never been a better time for workers who are fed up with their current work situation, especially since those jobs are likely to come with a significant pay increase.

ALSO READ: 8 Companies That Are Increasing Wages

In addition to providing a sudden break for normal day-to-day life, the pandemic also changed work life in other ways.

When they were out of work or working at home, some Americans may have developed a side hustle, something like selling crafts on Etsy, or making videos for TikTok or YouTube.

Others may have developed new hobbies that they have chosen to pursue. In today's economy, there are more ways than ever to make money, and many Americans discovered those new opportunities during the pandemic.

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For at least some time early in the pandemic, the majority of Americans were working remotely. Any job that could be done from home was being done that way, and jobs that had to be done in person were put on hold or were accommodated with social distancing and masking practices.

Many Americans got a taste for remote work and liked it, and they balked at the idea of going back to the office when it was time to do so. For those Americans, it was only natural to seek out a different job that would allow them to work remotely when the call to return to the office came.

Social movements can go viral just like an online video, and it appears that this is what is happening with quitting jobs. Young people keep hearing about the Great Resignation and may have friends who are quitting their jobs and finding something else to do.

Quitting your job seems easier to do now than it ever has before, and the normalization of it has made it easier for others to do.

ALSO READ: Is the Great Resignation Here to Stay?

Many workers seemed to quit their jobs because they felt like the balance of power was against them, citing reasons like pay being too low or not enough opportunities for advancement. A number of them also said that they felt like they were being disrepected at work.

It's been 13 years since the federal government last raised the minimum wage, and workers finally seem to be regaining power over employers.

Not every American was quitting a job because to pursue their dreams. Some were dealing with real-world COVID-19 challenges.

They may have gotten sick and were not healthy enough to return to work, or they may have had to take care of a family member who got sick.

With schools closed around much of the country, it was a tough time for parents as well, and some had to give up their jobs to handle the extra childcare.

Even as much of the economy has reopened, many Americans are still struggling with these challenges.

Another phenomenon of the pandemic was that it prompted many Americans to move. Some sought more space for their families, moving out of cities into suburbs or even rural areas, and some fled to warm-weather locales like Florida or Texas to be in a climate that made it easier to live with the coronavirus.

While this led to a housing boom, it also led to many Americans quitting their jobs and finding new ones in their new homes.

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Along with the Great Resignation, the unemployment rate has also plunged to all-time lows and job openings have soared due to the labor shortage.

That means that many Americans have the confidence to quit their jobs, knowing they can find something new and probably better paying.

Many of them may even be taking a break from the workforce, knowing that they can easily find a job when they need one again.

ALSO READ: We Have a Booming Economy. Why Doesn't It Feel Like That?

Another macroeconomic force behind the labor shortage is that the workforce is shrinking. Baby boomers are aging into retirement, and immigration has slowed to a trickle during the pandemic, though there are signs that it is picking back up.

While the labor supply has stalled, demand has remained strong thanks to government stimulus and a healthy economic rebound. As a result, workers have more power than ever and are leveraging it by quitting their jobs and finding higher pay or something better to do.

The coronavirus has affected the economy in a wide range of ways, and poor COVID-19 management by some companies has driven employees to quit. This may include something like not requiring masks or social distancing, or the job itself requires too many virus-related risks. Others may have balked at being required to get vaccinated.

Immunocompromised people or those with immunocompromised family members decided in some cases that the risks of exposure at work weren't worth it.

If it seems like every service business is struggling to be fully staffed, that's not a coincidence.

Many service workers and retail and restaurant employees quit their jobs because they were fed up with things like rude customers, wearing masks all day, and the fear of getting COVID-19.

Social media has been inundated with stories of unruly customers, who may be frustrated themselves with coronavirus-level restrictions, making life difficult for service workers.

While many companies initially offered bonuses or higher wages in the early stages of the crisis, those mostly disappeared in a few months. It's not surprising that more workers quit in response.

For many Americans, the pandemic led to a reassessment of how much time they should devote to their jobs or how much meaning they should be getting from them.

The elusive work-life balance came into focus, and many decided that work was overweighted on that scale, so they made adjustments or quit their job, content to find something on their own terms for better pay.

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The number of Americans quitting their jobs has hit a plateau at around 4.4 million over the five months leading up to April, and there are signs that the labor shortage may be easing.

The economy is slowing down, and inflation is squeezing consumers. The most recent initial unemployment claims report, while still low by historical levels, was the highest since February, showing that more employers are choosing to lay off employees.

And the economy finally seems to be normalizing as Americans return to things like travel.

However, the cultural shift from the pandemic will be lasting, and it's a good bet that Americans will continue to quit their jobs in higher numbers than before the crisis, having been shaken by a once-in-a-lifetime event like the pandemic.

Jeremy Bowman has positions in Etsy. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Etsy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.