The Great Resignation

By Benjamin Chan-kai, ‘25 

Towards the end of October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced 4.3 million people, 2.9% of the American workforce, had quit their jobs. According to NPR’s GREG ROSALSKY, this record-high statistic is predicted to only increase. 

This makes the workplace unbalanced since others are forced to take additional jobs in their work creating a stressful atmosphere. In Oregon, Hawaii, Utah, and many other places people are quitting. The United States currently can't do anything about this situation, even if it is common to see a surge of quitting when the job market is tight, because of the social and economic changes that have come due to the pandemic. 

The easiest way to explain what is happening is a chain of events dating back to March 2020. 

According to a news organization called “WIRED”, the resignations are due to “rampant stress, and shift from remote work and in-person work.” WIRED also mentions Many workers were fired or on mandatory leave from their jobs, which left businesses short-staffed. Because of this those who remained at their jobs were being overworked and forced to take more hours for the same wage. This is one of the main reasons businesses are left short-staffed. 

They also state that “Some are parents are unable to find or afford child care, while others are avoiding taking jobs out of fear of contracting COVID-19.” Most higher-paying jobs switched to online work, although entry-level jobs are a different story. 

Jiana Scipione, a Catlin Gabel senior, has been working as a waitress for 5 to almost 6 months, but is quitting, she says, 

“I know I will be pressured to work more and the environment won’t be as comfortable to work in after all my coworkers are gone.”

At her work right now, there is a considerable staff shortage, for example, Scipione explains that 

“There are supposed to be 5 servers working each night but now there are 3 which means everyone is working more and getting paid the same amount.” 

Due to the lack of staff,  “entry-level jobs are more likely to hire 14+-year-old students,” says little big burger worker Jeffery Goldstein (17). “I have applied to 4 entry-level jobs in the past 7 months and got accepted to 3 of them.”

If you are interested in working, Goldstein says “fast food is the easiest for teenagers.” In addition to making money, working helps our community to develop into what it was pre-pandemic.