The Great Resignation: A Scoping Review

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO
Author/s Laura Leonelli, Margherita Milotta, Rachele Contiero
Publishing Year 2025 Issue 2025/171
Language English Pages 22 P. 33-54 File size 211 KB
DOI 10.3280/SL2025-171002
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In September 2021, 4.4 millions of Americans voluntarily resigned from their jobs, marking a sharp increase from the previous year. This phenomenon, known as the “Great Resignation,” originated in the U.S. and spread to Europe, reflecting a shift in how work is perceived after the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic led many to reassess their professional priorities, with Millennials and Gen Z individuals seeking better work-life balance and more meaningful, fulfilling jobs. This shift resulted in behaviors such as “quiet quitting” or outright resignations. This scoping review aims to examine the main factors contributing to the phenomenon and the countermeasures implemented at both the company and government levels to address this issue. The primary causes include a lack of flexibility, insufficient wages, and limited growth opportunities. In response, many companies are reviewing their policies to enhance employee retention.

Keywords: Great Resignation; factors; measures; sectors

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Laura Leonelli, Margherita Milotta, Rachele Contiero, The Great Resignation: A Scoping Review in "SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO " 171/2025, pp 33-54, DOI: 10.3280/SL2025-171002