Record 4.3 Million Workers Quit Their Jobs In August

On Tuesday, the Labor Department announced that a record 4.3 million workers quit their jobs in August, the highest level on record.

“Quits hit a new series high going back to December 2000, as 4.3 million workers left their jobs,” CNBC reported. “The quits rate rose to 2.9%, an increase of 242,000 from the previous month, which saw a rate of 2.7%, according to the department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The rate, which is measured against total employment, is the highest in a data series that goes back to December 2000.”

CNBC added, “A total of 892,000 workers in the foodservice and accommodation industries left their jobs, while 721,000 retail workers departed along with 534,000 in health care and social assistance.”

The announcement comes amid reports of COVID-19 vaccine mandates pushed by President Biden causing a mass exodus of employees who refuse to get vaccinated.

For example, at Northwell Health in New York, the state’s largest provider of healthcare, thousands of employees were fired for refusing the vaccine.  In Seattle, the police department is “already facing a staffing crisis” as the department is “bracing for the possibility that hundreds of officers will fail to meet an Oct. 18 vaccination deadline,” Fox 13 reported.

“As of Oct. 6, 292 sworn personnel had yet to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination,” Fox 13 added. “To add another layer of concern, Seattle PD Spokesperson Sgt. Randy Huserik confirmed to FOX 13 News that there are an additional 111 officers awaiting results of exemption requests. Those 111 are not counted in the 292 figure – meaning if their accommodations are denied, the actual number of unvaccinated officers could be as high as 403.”