WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Joint Economic Committee released its Monthly Employment Update. In December, 50,000 jobs were added (+37K private sector jobs, and +13K government jobs), slightly down from the 56,000 added in November and lower than the expected 73,000. The unemployment rate still dropped slightly to 4.4 percent down from 4.5 percent in November. Revised numbers from November show 76,000 fewer jobs gained than previously reported.

The labor force participation rate ticked down slightly by 0.1 percentage points from November to end December at 62.4 percent. From November to December, for prime age (25-54 years) the rate remained steady at 83.8 percent, 0.4 percentage points higher than December 2024.

From November to December, the best performing sectors were leisure and hospitality (+47K) and private education and health services (+41K). The worst performing sectors were trade, transportation, and utilities (-33K) and construction (-11K). While year over year, the best performing sectors were private education and health services (+709K) and leisure and hospitality (+188K). The worst performing sectors were federal government (-274K) and professional and business services (-97K).

From October to November, nonfarm job openings were down by 303,000 to 7.15 million. Nonfarm hires were down 253,000 to 5.12 million, and nonfarm separations were up 11,000 to 5.08 million.

Earlier this week, the JEC also released its monthly State Employment Update, outlining the employment situation in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In November, nonfarm payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 15. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.3 percent in Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, and Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in New Hampshire.

The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in the District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.6 percent. Overall, 39 States ended Novembers with lower unemployment rates than the national rate, while two tied it and nine states and the District of Columbia recorded higher rates.

For the full State Employment update, and to see more details on the employment situation in each State and the District of Columbia visit: https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/employment-update#seu 

For the full Employment update and to see more details on the employment situation in each state, visit: https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/employment-update#seu 

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