What Happens After The Great Resignation?

Recently news articles have been popping up everywhere discussing one of the unexpected consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic — the unprecedented rise in employee resignations.

Researchers began seeing signs of the Great Resignation (aka the Big Quit) in early 2021. Before that time, U.S. resignation rates hadn’t surpassed 2.4% of the total workforce in 20 years. However, by April 2021, it had reached historic levels. That month, a record 4 million Americans quit their jobs amounting to 2.7% of the total workforce. Numbers have remained high since.

To be clear, everyone isn’t quitting. For many people of color and individuals from other marginalized communities, quitting a steady source of income just isn’t an option. For those that are leaving their jobs, there is one question that no one seems to be asking — what happens after you quit?

After a few months without a steady income, will the Great Resignation turn into the Great Return To Work to do the same unsatisfying job under the sam…