The number of unfilled jobs remained at 10.4 million in October, bucking expectations that job openings would decline slightly during the month.
Given these dynamics, it’s likely that the quits rate will remain elevated for the next several months, Wilke added.
Some employees may also be seeking better pay as a way to offset higher inflation, which recently saw its biggest monthly rise in 30 years and is eating into wages.
The decision by millions of Americans to leave their jobs shows the “increasing confidence workers have in securing better-paid jobs elsewhere,” Michael Pearce, senior U.S.
The Great Resignation, as the trend has come to be called, signals shifting priorities for the nation’s workers, who increasingly are looking for options such as flexible schedules or remote work.