Record Number of Americans, Quit Their Jobs In August.<br />A new report released on October 12 shows that huge <br />numbers of American workers are quitting their jobs.<br />According to the Labor Department the number <br />of quits jumped to 4.3 million in August.<br />That is the highest number of quits since December of 2000, and up from 4 million in July.<br />ABC reports that is equal to almost 3% <br />of the United States' workforce.<br />The report showed that hiring slowed and the number of jobs available dropped to 10.4 million, after hitting a record high of 11.1 million in July.<br />In the past year, open jobs have increased 62%.<br />Despite this, the report shows that overall hiring has actually declined slightly during that time.<br />ABC suggests that<br />fear of COVID-19 is likely to have caused many <br />who are out of work to quit, not look for or take jobs.<br />In August, as COVID-19 cases surged, quits <br />rose sharply in public-facing jobs from July.<br />In August, almost 900,000 people quit jobs at restaurants, bars and hotels, up 21% from July.<br />In the retail industry, the number of quits rose 6%.<br />Jennifer Lee, an economist at BMO <br />Capital Markets, said the data is, “highlighting the immense problems <br />businesses are dealing with.".<br />Not enough people. Not enough <br />equipment and/or parts. Meantime,<br />customers are waiting for their orders, or waiting to place their orders. What a strange world this is, Jennifer Lee, an economist at BMO Capital Markets, via ABC
