A new study finds that South Carolina leads the nation among people quitting their jobs. Low wage paying tourism related, restaurant, hotel, and “attraction” venues are said to contribute.

Key Findings:

• New study shows the states where the most workers are quitting their jobs
• Alaska had the most workers quitting their jobs between April and July this year, closely followed by Montana and South Carolina
• Expert discusses the challenges of retention in states with high quit rates

The ongoing trend of the “Great Resignation” has seen workers quitting their jobs at unprecedented rates, placing additional strain on industries already facing labor shortages. Some states, however, have been hit particularly hard, with resignation rates soaring. 

That’s why Kasra Dash, a leading SEO consultant, has used data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to reveal which states are experiencing the highest resignation rates. After analyzing the data, he reveals why these states have been hit particularly hard.

Which states are quitting their jobs?

The data was collected by the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) program, which uses Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) and web collection to gather data on labor trends from select establishments across different industries. The quitting their jobs rate is the average percentage of employees who quit each month from April to July, and does not include those who quit involuntarily (who were fired).

Table 1: Top Ten States Where Most Workers Are Quitting, With Average Quitting Rate

Rank	State	Average Quitting Rate (Apr-Jul 2024)
1	Alaska	3.425
2	Montana	3.2
3	South Carolina	2.95
4	Idaho	2.9
4	Wyoming	2.9
6	West Virginia	2.875
7	Colorado	2.85
8	Louisiana	2.825
9	Mississippi	2.675
10	South Dakota	2.675

Why Workers Are Quitting In These States
Alaska had the highest number of workers quitting their jobs, with 3.425% on average per month. “A lot of Alaska is very remote and has harsh weather conditions,” says Kasra. “This could be inducing employees to quit and move to places with better job opportunities and less taxing conditions.”

Montana came second on the list, with an average 3.2% of employees quitting their jobs each month between April and July. This could be due to the state’s strong reliance on seasonal industries such as tourism, agriculture, and fishing, which could lead to employees quitting after peak seasons or when contract work ends. “South Dakota is another place where the seasonality of work heavily affects quitting rates year-round,” says Kasra.

South Carolina was third, with a quitting rate of 2.95%. Kasra suggests this could be due to low wages and stagnant pay. “South Carolina ranks lower in terms of average wages. With inflation rising, employees may find their pay isn’t keeping up with living costs, driving them to seek better-paying jobs. Louisiana and Mississippi could also be experiencing this problem.”

Limited job growth and opportunities could also be impacting quitting rates. In states like West Virginia, Mississippi, and Wyoming, whose economies depend more on industries like coal, agriculture, or oil, workers may feel trapped in positions with limited career advancement. When opportunities arise elsewhere, they may be more inclined to leave.

“Some industries in these states are physically demanding or involve hazardous conditions, such as oil and gas in Wyoming or mining in West Virginia,” Kasra says. “Workers may leave jobs in search of safer, less strenuous roles, especially as alternative job options expand.”

Kasra Dash, a leading business consultant, commented:

“Managing retention in states with high quitting rates requires going beyond simply offering competitive salaries. Companies must invest time and effort into understanding the root causes of turnover, which often stem from issues like burnout, lack of career advancement, or a poor work-life balance. Implementing strategies such as flexible work schedules and professional development programs can give a huge boost to retention. 

“When employees feel valued and supported, they’re more likely to stay, while also becoming more productive, so retention policies that focus on employee well-being pay huge dividends in the long term. Employees who feel that their company is invested in their growth and job satisfaction are more loyal, engaged, and committed to the success of the business.”

About Kasra Dash

Kasra Dash is an SEO and business strategy consultant, digital marketing influencer, entrepreneur, and investor. Starting off as a web developer and honing his skills in SEO and digital marketing, he’s renowned for his expertise in digital marketing and building assets including websites, agencies and SAAS products.

Methodology

Data was obtained from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/jltst.t04.htm. 

The data was collected by the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) program, which uses Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) and web collection to gather data on labor trends from select establishments across different industries. The rate does not include those who quit involuntarily (who were fired). The study calculated an average using the data from the previous four months (Apr-Jul) to show longer-term trends.