The Riskiest States to Quit Your Job Right Now, According to a New Study

Quitting your job in California right now could be a serious financial mistake. With over 4 million Americans voluntarily leaving their jobs each month, a July 2026 report by Affordable Contractors Insurance reveals the top 10 states where it's hardest to start over and find a new employer.

• California is the hardest state to get back on your feet after quitting, with 1+ million job seekers already in line, and costs 40% above the US average.

• Leaving work in Massachusetts without savings or an offer in hand is also risky, with local employers hiring at the slowest pace.

• North Dakota is the safest state to quit, where only 2.6% of workers are unemployed, and companies recruit 4% of the workforce every month.

The research examined all 50 US states to find where it's too risky to leave a job without one lined up. The report looked at multiple labor market factors, such as unemployment rates, the number of unemployed workers competing for each open position, and how actively employers were hiring each month. It also considered the cost of living in each state and median family income, showing how long a typical worker's savings could realistically last without a paycheck. States were ranked by their overall risk score, where a higher number means a harder place to be between jobs.

Here's a look at the top 10 riskiest states to quit your job right now:

State	Available Worker Ratio	Unemployment Rate (%)	Hire Rate (%)	Quit Rate (%)	Cost of Living Index	Median family income (1 earner)	Risk score
California	1.638	5.464	3.009	1.764	140.5	76,190.00	5.034
Massachusetts	1.056	4.5	2.809	1.482	147.8	83,430.00	3.443
New York	0.931	4.373	3.173	1.645	124.7	68,795.00	2.79
Pennsylvania	1.082	4.3	2.591	1.573	96.2	67,676.00	2.331
New Jersey	1.257	5.3	3.336	1.545	118.8	84,257.00	2.088
Hawaii	0.633	2.3	3.291	2.018	184.8	82,196.00	1.891
Washington	1.428	4.645	3.00	1.673	114.6	85,482.00	1.786
Oregon	1.336	5.191	3.564	2.191	109.6	73,344.00	1.573
Nevada	1.335	5.245	3.809	2.182	100.7	67,756.00	1.498
Kentucky	0.936	4.564	3.564	1.991	92.5	57,764.00	1.403

You can access the complete research findings here.

1. California

• Available worker ratio: 1.638 (roughly 1.6 job seekers per opening)

• Unemployment rate: 5.5%

• Hire rate: 3.0%

• Quit rate: 1.8%

• Cost of living index: 140.5

• Median family income (single earner): $76.1K

California is the riskiest state in the country to quit your job. The labor market here has more unemployed people than open positions, with around 1.6 workers competing for every vacancy. At the same time, the state's unemployment rate of 5.5% is the highest in America, meaning the line to find work is long and slow-moving. Staying afloat without a monthly paycheck is also hard, with prices for products 40% higher than the US average. 

2.  Massachusetts

Massachusetts is another state where quitting a job could be a mistake. The cost of living in the state is nearly 50% higher compared to the rest of the country, meaning rent, groceries, and utilities drain savings faster than almost anywhere else. Unemployment also sits at 5.4%, nearly matching California, and employers are hiring at the slowest pace. So, despite a higher income of $83K a year, that cushion may evaporate quickly when bills run this high, and the job market is stagnant. 

3.  New York

New York comes third among the states where quitting is a financial risk. The everyday goods here are 25% more expensive compared to other states. Plus, unemployment also reaches 4.4%, meaning there are nearly half a million New Yorkers competing for the same openings. The hiring rates across the state are not looking good either (3.2%), so leaving the work without an offer in hand could be a real mistake here. 

4.  Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania comes next, with one of the worst job markets in America. The hiring rates here are even worse than in Massachusetts, with only 2.6% of the workforce landing a job. Because of the lack of opportunities, the state currently reports 4% unemployment rate, among the worst in the country. The only positive is the cost-of-living index of 96.2, but with job search taking so long, even careful savers can find themselves running short here. 

5.  New Jersey

New Jersey rounds out the top five. The average income here reaches $84K a year, but with costs nearly 20% higher than the rest of America, leaving the work without the next job lined up can still be risky. Unemployment rate in New Jersey sits at 5%, so the job market is crowded enough to make a speedy return to work unlikely. The state's hiring rate is 3.3%, which does provide some relief, but not enough to overcome the expenses and job competition.

Sean O'Keefe, CEO & Founder of Affordable Contractors Insurance, commented on the study: 

"One practical thing worth doing before quitting is logging into LinkedIn and checking how many people applied to the last few roles you'd go for. If you're regularly seeing 200-plus applicants, factor that into how long you give yourself. It's also worth having an honest conversation with your bank about your overdraft limit or a short-term credit line. Not because you'll need it, but because it's much easier to arrange while you're still employed than after you've left."