Quit rates: 3.3 million professionals quit their jobs in December, a 17-year high

PORTLAND, Ore. — With unemployment rates for professional white collar workers at about two percent, the number of people who quit their jobs last December for new opportunities is at a 17-year high, experts say.

"Our Accountemps division did a survey and found 29 percent of workers are planning on looking for a new job in 2018, which again is a high number," said Portland-based Louisa Waldman of the specialized staffing agency Robert Half. "First and foremost is salary. So if the salary is not competitive then they are either being recruited away or they're more aware of it and they're looking for new positions."

Waldman says the trend is occurring in Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and throughout the country as people seek better pay, life-work balance and a more reasonable work-load.

“A lot of employees are burning the candle at both ends of the stick and working long hours and again as manager we would recommend you look at that and pay attention to that, bring in contract labor or temporary workers to help,” Waldman said. “I think with quit ratios, the numbers being so high, staff retention is critical.”

Waldman, who covers Oregon and Idaho staffing trends and solutions, says another way to retain employees is to praise and recognize good work. It's free and it works.

“Just saying a few kind words to somebody and meeting with them frequently to give that feedback is going to give them an idea where they stand with the company and also the sense that they’re doing a good job,” Waldman said. “That may be an opportunity to retain you versus you leaving the company.”