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.
