A record number of Americans quit their jobs in 2021
CNN
2/1/2022
© Mark J. Terrill/AP
Wait staff walk through a dining room as diners eat outside in front of beach views at a restaurant in Los Angeles in March 2021.
Last year was a historic one for American jobs. A record number of workers quit their jobs while US employers had more positions to fill than ever before.
In December, 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs, down slightly from the record 4.5 million in November, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
While millions of workers left jobs for cash incentives, better pay or better benefits, people also left the labor market to care for children or elderly relatives during the pandemic. Meanwhile, older workers retired early either because they could or because age discrimination forced them out of the labor market.
The number of workers quitting last month fell in health care and social assistance jobs, as well as restaurants, hotels and construction. Quits went up in nondurable good manufacturing.
Even though a record number of people quit their jobs last year, the US labor market still recorded a net employment gain of 6.4 million.
In total, 75.3 million workers were hired last year, while 68.9 million quit, were laid off or discharged. Out of these so-called separations, 47.4 million were voluntary quits.
In line with that, the number of layoffs hit a new record low at 1.2 million in December, showing that the negative impact from the Omicron variant didn't fully hit the labor market at the end of last year.
Video: Why are people quitting their jobs? (CNN Money)
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Pete Arredondo, Uvalde School District Police Chief, Placed on Administrative Leave Pete Arredondo, Uvalde School District Police Chief, , Placed on Administrative Leave. CBS News reports Dr. Hal Harell, superintendent of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, . said Arredondo was placed on administrative leave on June 22. While Dr. Harrell said the district wanted to first investigate the police response to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary before making any decisions. Arredondo was placed on leave "because of the lack of clarity that remains" and the "unknown timing" of when the investigation will be completed. Lieutenant Mike Hernandez will serve as interim Uvalde school district police chief. Arredondo, who led the police response on the day of the mass school shooting, has been criticized over his team's failure to properly respond. Reports indicate police had an opportunity to take the gunman out within three minutes of entering the school, but they let him wreak havoc for over an hour. It has also been reported that law enforcement wasted time looking for a key to gain access to the classroom the gunman was in even though the door was unlocked. . CBS News reports that on June 21, Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin said no student or teacher will ever return to Robb Elementary, as it is set to be demolished
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Supreme Court Rules Against Religious Exclusion From Maine's Tuition Assistance Program Supreme Court Rules Against, Religious Exclusion From Maine's , Tuition Assistance Program. On June 21, the Supreme Court ruled that religious schools in Maine cannot be excluded from the state's tuition assistance program. . CNN reports that the state program allows parents in Maine to use vouchers to enroll their children in public or private schools. Maine’s ‘nonsectarian’ requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, Chief Justice John Roberts, via CNN. Maine’s ‘nonsectarian’ requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, Chief Justice John Roberts, via CNN. Regardless of how the benefit and restriction are described, the program operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise, Chief Justice John Roberts, via CNN. Regardless of how the benefit and restriction are described, the program operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise, Chief Justice John Roberts, via CNN. According to CNN, the ruling by the conservative court expands religious liberty rights and brings religion into public life. Critics say the decision amounts to an erosion of the , separation of church and state. Justice Stephen Breyer, who voted against the measure, wrote that the court had , “never previously held what the Court holds today, namely, that a State must (not may) use state funds to pay for religious education as part of a tuition program designed to ensure the provision of free statewide public school education.”. Justice Stephen Breyer, who voted against the measure, wrote that the court had , “never previously held what the Court holds today, namely, that a State must (not may) use state funds to pay for religious education as part of a tuition program designed to ensure the provision of free statewide public school education.”. In response, Justice John Roberts emphasized that , "the state pays for tuition for certain students at private schools – so long as they are not religious.”. That is discrimination against religion, Chief Justice John Roberts, via CNN. Justice Sotomayer, who also voted against the majority, accused the conservative court of dismantling , “the wall of separation between church and state that the Framers fought to build.”
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Job openings stood at 10.9 million in December, compared with the data series high of 11.1 million recorded in July.
Worker shortage continues
For US companies, the labor shortage is still as real as it was in the summer. Home Depot has a plan to address the challenge: speedy job offers.
The world's largest home improvement retailer said Tuesday that job applicants "could receive an offer within one day of applying."
Home Depot said the "accelerated" hiring process is part of its plan to hire more than 100,000 new associates ahead of its busy spring season.
"In today's climate, jobseekers are shopping for the best opportunity," Eric Schelling, Home Depot's vice president of global talent acquisition, said in a statement.
To attract workers, Home Depot said it offers jobseekers various incentives, including upskilling programs, tuition reimbursement, a cash bonus program and discounted stock purchases.
The pandemic has forced a rethinking of how we work. A new study released Tuesday by the University of Michigan shows college-educated workers prioritize work passion over financial security, forcing companies to reassess what they offer their employees.
--CNN's Matt Egan contributed to this report.
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