US Job Quits Dip Slightly in August

The number of workers voluntarily leaving their jobs in the United States fell slightly by 23,000 to 3.07 million in August 2026, from the revised 3.09 million in the prior month. Quits decreased in wholesale trade (-34,000) and in state and local government education (-21,000), but increased in nondurable goods manufacturing (+28,000) and in private educational services (+13,000). The quits rate stood at 1.9% in August, remaining near its lowest level since 2020 and signaling reluctance among workers to quit.

The number of workers voluntarily leaving their jobs in the United States decreased by 157,000 to 3.06 million in July 2026, from a revised 3.21 million in the prior month. Quits fell primarily in accommodation and food services (-86,000); professional and business services (-77,000) and other services (-49,000). By region, quits declined in the West (-265,000) and the Northeast (-22,000) but increase in the Midwest (+114,000) and the South (+16,000). The quits rate edged down to 1.9% from 2%, remaining near its lowest level since 2020 and signaling continued reluctance among workers to quit.

The number of workers voluntarily leaving their jobs in the United States increased by 79,000 to 3.23 million in June 2026, from a revised 3.15 million in the previous month. The rise was led by leisure and hospitality (+40,000), primarily accommodation and food services, as well as trade, transportation, and utilities (+30,000), reflecting increases in both retail and wholesale trade. Job quits in construction also advanced by 23,000. By region, quits rose in the West (+96,000) and Northeast (+35,000), while declining in the Midwest (-27,000) and South (-24,000). Despite the monthly increase in the number of quits, the quits rate remained unchanged at 2.0%, hovering near its lowest level since 2020 and suggesting that workers continue to show limited willingness to voluntarily leave their jobs.