High turnover in the labor force is the new normal and it is fueled by the proliferation of remote work, CNBC reported.

Despite recent news of a decline in job openings and slowdowns in hiring, unemployment is still low – 3.5 percent in September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) -- prompting many to quit their jobs at a steady rate; more than four million did in August. That number is down from the peak of 4.5 million quits in November 2021, but it is still significant.

Anthony Klotz, the University College London management professor who coined the term “The Great Resignation” in May 2021, said that workers are not necessarily walking away from their bad jobs – despite perceived dysfunction in the work environment – as much as for the opportunities that the ability to work anywhere, anytime has provided.

Julie Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, agreed.

“The map is open for job-seekers who no longer need to search for a job in a certain ZIP code, she said. “You can search for roles across the entire country.”

Indeed, the disruption caused by a job change is minimized, or even eliminated, by the opportunities occasioned by remote work. That is one reason why Pollak sees high turnover as a permanent fixture of the labor market.

Still, despite the temptations to jump to another position without having to worry about major life changes such as uprooting yourself for better pay and benefits, the specter of an impending recession may put a brake on all the movement.

The unemployment rate may be low, but fewer jobs were created in September than in the previous month. The Federal Reserve Board, in its mission to tame high inflation, is poised to raise interest rates again this month. These factors could portend lessening demand for goods and services – and labor.