December 2025

Released January 27, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 22.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 23 states and fell in 27. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Delaware and Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Kansas and Nebraska.

Alaska

Employment snapshot

• In December, Alaska lost 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Alaska lost 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska lost 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Alaska’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska lost 400 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Alaska rose by 1,159, and over the past 12 months it rose by 8,156.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate rose to 65.8 percent in December from 65.6 percent and ranks 11th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 1.2 percentage points.

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Alaska

Payroll employment

• Alaska lost 200 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Alaska lost 600 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska lost 300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Alaska lost 400 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Alaska is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From November 2025 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+200) and Mining and Logging (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700) and Manufacturing (-200).

From December 2024 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+1,100) and Construction (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,000) and Manufacturing (-800).

Alaska

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Alaska rose to 65.8 percent in December from 65.6 percent in the prior month.

• Alaska ranks 11th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 66.4 percent in December 2015, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.