Top 10 Reasons Why People Quit Their Jobs in 2024

Employee turnover is something companies will always face, but here’s some good news: iHire’s recently released Talent Retention Report indicates voluntary resignations are decreasing. Of employers who experienced turnover during the past year, 67.3% said “all” or “most” of those resignations were voluntary, as opposed to 73.3% in 2023. 

Despite these encouraging statistics, some employers worry about a repeat of the Great Resignation of 2021–2022. Many wonder how to prevent employee turnover and ward off The Great Resignation 2.0. 

So, why did people quit their jobs in 2024, and what can you do to retain your employees? We’ll break down the most common reasons surveyed candidates gave for voluntarily resigning and provide some tips to help address these concerns. 

1. Toxic Work Environment (32.4%)

A toxic work environment harms employees’ morale, well-being, and productivity. It may include various damaging dynamics, like disrespect, poor communication, and distrust between management and employees.

Turnover Prevention Tips

Healing a negative work environment isn’t easy, but it’s possible – and essential. Start by:

• Encouraging open communication throughout all staff levels
• Creating feedback channels
• Offering soft skills training
• Using employee recognition to boost morale
• Conducting stay interviews

2. Poor Company Leadership (30.3%)

When upper management is too far removed from those in the trenches, this can cultivate a rift between employees and “the powers that be.”

Turnover Prevention Tips

Improving communication between management and employees must be step one. Even the most senior executives should – at least occasionally – take the time to understand what it’s like on the front lines and talk with employees on every level of the organization.

3. Unhappy With Manager/Supervisor (27.7%)

The adage “people don’t quit jobs; they quit bosses” isn’t a mere platitude. In years past, surveyed workers have said they quit because of dissatisfaction with their manager, which remains true in 2024.

Turnover Prevention Tips

Watch for signs that you have a bad manager on your hands, like:

• Micromanaging employees
• Deflecting blame
• Taking credit for employees’ work
• Communicating poorly
• Not accepting or ignoring employee feedback

Once you identify a bad manager, it’s up to senior management and HR executives to decide whether to train and coach the individual or cut them loose.

4. Poor Work-Life Balance (20.8%)

Poor work-life balance can negatively affect employees’ mental health and overall wellness, relationships, and job performance and is a major reason employees gave for quitting.

Turnover Prevention Tips

Strategies to promote healthy work-life balance include:

• Offering flexible schedules
• Shortening the workweek
• Focusing on productivity, not time worked
• Allowing remote work
• Providing generous PTO and paid family leave
• Respecting working hours

5. Unsatisfactory Pay (20.5%) & Better Job Offer (12.3%)

It’s a no-brainer: When an employee receives an offer for a job that better aligns with their career goals, offers higher pay, and/or provides better benefits and perks, they’ll likely take it.

Turnover Prevention Tips

Your company’s benefits package speaks to your organizational values, telling current and prospective employees whether you value health and well-being, family, professional development, diversity, and more. When assembling your benefits package, consider:

• Paying employees fairly and competitively
• Avoiding salary compression
• Offering benefits that appeal across generations
• Providing various childcare benefits
• Including benefits that support an LGBTQ-friendly workplace
• Adding less common perks, such as pet insurance

6. Burnout/Stress (19.2%)

Burnout affects employees and employers alike and causes increased turnover. Work stress can impact one’s physical, emotional, and mental wellness, as well as their performance and personal life.

Turnover Prevention Tips

Here are a few burnout busters:

• Give employees time to rest and recover
• Cultivate a positive work environment
• Train managers to identify and combat burnout

7. Personal Reasons (18.7%)

Some personal reasons cited in survey responses include health and family issues.

Turnover Prevention Tips

These issues can be tough for you to prevent as an employer. Keep your finger on your workforce’s pulse by establishing psychological safety, and do what you can to ease these stressors and provide support.

8. Lack of Professional Development Opportunities (18.3%)

Without opportunities to learn new skills and improve professional competencies, employees are more likely to seek employment elsewhere.

Turnover Prevention Tips

Offer better professional development opportunities like:

• Personalized coaching and mentorship
• Continuous learning platforms
• Individual competency evaluations
• Skill-specific workshops
• Cross-training and career latticing
   

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9. Lack of Advancement Opportunities (15.0%)

Employees without hope of growing or advancing in their careers are more likely to vacate their jobs. 

Turnover Prevention Tips

Avoid employee job stagnation by:

• Offering growth and leadership opportunities
• Moving employees seeking career changes to other departments
• Implementing clear and intentional career paths
• Enlisting mentors and coaches

10. Job Stability Concerns (11.9%)

Almost 12% of surveyed candidates stated they voluntarily resigned from their positions due to concerns about job security or company stability. 

Turnover Prevention Tips

To reassure employees that their jobs are secure and the organization is stable, acknowledge any setbacks the business encounters but maintain hope in the face of difficulty. Use failures as teaching moments, not opportunities to place blame. Share information that projects confidence and creates optimism while remaining realistic.

Bonus Reasons: Other (21.7%) 

Responses of “Other” included various reasons to be mindful of, such as:

• Lack of hours
• Retirement
• Contract end
• Discrimination
• Relocation
• Long commute
• Returning to school

Ushering In “The Great Stay”

Employee turnover happens for myriad reasons, but it’s not unavoidable when you’re armed with ways to address and prevent employee concerns. Read the full Talent Retention Report 2024 for more retention stats and trends, and for additional tips, articles, eBooks, webinars, and more, visit iHire’s Resource Center for employers.