Texans almost lead the nation in departing their jobs, trailing only Californians in total job quits, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Texans left approximately 439,000 jobs in September, compared to 443,000 jobs in California and over double that of third-ranked New York, which saw 183,000 departures.
Texas also recorded by far the largest increase in job quits month-to-month, with 69,000 more departures than in August.
Some of the roughly 14,600 Texans who quit their workplaces each day started at other jobs. Texas Workforce Commission data shows employers added 90,000 non-farm jobs to their payrolls in September, followed by 50,000 jobs in October. Texas had the nation’s largest decrease in job openings during September, dropping from 880,000 to 800,000.
But many employers, especially in the retail and restaurant industries, are struggling to attract enough people willing to work at the wages and benefits offered. Retailers including Hobby Lobby and T-Mobile recently raised their company-wide minimum wages in a bid to increase new hires.
On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas, Houston labor markets post solid gains in October
The Texas exodus hasn’t caused a rise in unemployment insurance claims, either, since people who voluntarily quit their jobs are generally not eligible for unemployment benefits.
According to the Texas Workforce Commission, initial claims dropped from 31,000 at the start of August to 20,000 by the first week of September, reaching a pandemic low of 10,400 by Thanksgiving week before rising to 19,000 at the start of December.
Continued claims have declined steadily from around 160,000 at the start of September to 119,000 by the first week of November, compared to over a million claims at the start of Sept. 2020.
charlie.zong@chron.com
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