Florida Sees Spike in People Quitting Their Jobs

Florida saw a spike in people quitting their jobs from June to July, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In June, 205,000 people in the state quit their jobs, followed by 268,000 in July. The 63,000 difference was a 0.6 percent increase month to month and was the highest jump even among the most populous states, like New York, Texas and California.
New York and Texas saw fewer people quit their jobs in July compared with June, and in California the quit level increased by only 3,000.
“Employees are dissatisfied with the current state of overwork and a lack of worker protections, which in Florida seem to somehow be providing even fewer protections,” HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek.
“Compared to states like California or New York or Illinois, where stronger labor protections and benefits are in place, Florida’s workforce faces fewer protections, which can make the job market feel unforgiving,” he said.
Behind Florida, Virginia and Pennsylvania saw 22,000 and 23,000 more people quit their jobs in July than in June.
Workers quitting their jobs are likely in search of more stability, flexibility and support from their companies, Driscoll said.
“When they don’t get that, they’re willing to walk away. And right now, there’s about an equal number of working-aged people moving out of the state as are moving in. Even retirees are leaving,” Driscoll said, speaking about Florida.
After the pandemic, employees across the country have started to demand more from their employers, including better pay, mental health support and improved working conditions and flexibility.
Florida might be the site of a particularly high number of resignations because it has seen more registered businesses than any other state in 2024. There were 163,992 new businesses by April.
Nationally, though, employers have been adding fewer jobs than in previous months. In July, 114,000 jobs were added, but that was a significant drop from the 179,000 jobs posted in June.
In August, the unemployment rate reached 4.2 percent, but Florida might be experiencing a different labor market compared with many other regions of the country.
As the cost of living surges in the Sunshine State, employees are more likely to demand higher pay as well. This summer, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and the West Palm Beach area reported the highest inflation rate across any Florida metro area, at 9 percent, over the past year.
“It’s the culmination of a few years of steep rises in the cost of living in Florida that’s more than likely making many consider their jobs and economic futures in the state,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
“The surge of new residents during the pandemic has produced higher prices across the board, from housing to insurance to everyday items, and those same costs are starting to catch up with many consumers,” he said.