We’ve all heard the phrase, “Take a leap of faith.” Many people are working jobs that aren’t close to their dream, and they’re always told to take that daring jump to an entirely new career. But, in reality, most of us are too scared to do that. Or are we? People are quitting their jobs in record numbers in what NPR called “The Great Resignation.”
Americans are quitting their jobs.
In April 2021, a record-breaking 2.8% of Americans quit their jobs. Accommodation and food services had the highest quit rate of 5.7% in April. In May, the quit level was at 3.6 million people. Most people believe if you’re quitting a job, you must believe the economy is doing well enough that you could find a better one. So, is that why people are quitting?
1. Higher expectations
We’ve had to endure a lot during the pandemic. Some of us had to deal with financial hardships, and now workers’ expectations are higher than ever. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, annual salary expectations were at an all-time high in March 2021 at $72,341. More people are expecting more money, so they are less likely to stay at a job that undervalued and underpaid them.
2. Burnout
With the stress of the pandemic weighing on top of workers’ already pre-existing stress levels, more and more of them no longer could handle the pressure. They were feeling burnt out, unmotivated and unproductive. According to a survey conducted by Indeed, 43% of participants said they felt burnt out pre-COVID, but in a post-COVID 2021, the numbers spiked to 52%. Now that we are hopefully on the other side of C-19, employees are tired of feeling this way and are leaving their jobs.
3. Working from home
While many hated the endless Zoom calls and lonely hours working at home, others actually loved it. According to a survey by Morning Consult, 77% of participants enjoyed working remotely. And 70% of the participants said they would be more likely to consider a job if it offered a remote option. Some people take it even further: In a survey by FlexJobs, 58% of participants said they would look for another job if they weren’t allowed to continue working remotely.
While there are several reasons people don’t enjoy their job, it’s clear that many Americans are tired of settling and are ready to take that “leap of faith.”
If you’re getting ready for a new interview and want some tips, check this out!