The Great Resignation

In November 2021, 4.6 million people quit their jobs resulting in the highest record number surpassing 4.5 million in September 2021, according to the Labor Department’s job openings and labor turnover report.

As of January 2022, 10.5 million job openings are available and the worker shortage consists of many factors, like Baby Boomers retiring, border controls and immigration limits reducing the number of workers coming from other countries. Some argue, that there really isn’t a worker shortage but more so a wage and benefits shortage. However, according to recent stats, the top reasons people are quitting their jobs is due to no work-life balance, not feeling valued and not feeling supported mentally. Money is not the top factor! People with higher salaries are feeling it too and quitting their jobs at an alarming rate. A survey was done, and it boiled down to people are making good money but don't have the time or energy to enjoy it. Instead, use money on material things realizing they don't really need it.

With the number of vacancies, unemployment claims are at a 30-year low, so the question is how are people making it or even surviving? Some people are trading in their 9-5 to work for DoorDash and take advantage of the flexibility. There are others who found their niche and lunged into the world of entrepreneurship. There are some people who just don’t have a backup plan and realized their mental health comes first and just out here living and trusting in a higher source. Hey, no judgment over here!

Whatever your “why!” is, be sure to invest in yourself along the way! Take advantage of online trainings, pick up some additional classes to work towards completing your degree, get into tech because it truly is the future. We are in unprecedented times, but you still have the power to make a positive change within your life!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jamelah Henry specializes in producing "All-Star" employees for the workplace. She is a product of a job training program from early in her career. She used the skillsets that she learned and was immediately recognized by top employers. After a few short years in the workforce, she was promoted to a management position. She spent the last 18 years of her career working as a manager, trainer, recruiter, and entrepreneur specializing in hiring, training, coaching and developing both existing and new hire employees to bring their best to the workplace.

She is an SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Certified Professional, earned a B.S. in Human Resource Management from Wilmington University and a member of the Delta Epsilon Rho Honor Society. She is also a current member of the National Resume Writers Association (NRWA) and working towards a certification as a National Resume Writer. In her spare time, she likes giving back to her community supporting causes such as Poverty Alleviation, Economic Empowerment, Civil Rights & Social Action.