November 2025

Released January 08, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota.

• In November, 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.

District of Columbia

Employment snapshot

• In November, District of Columbia lost 600 net payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 18,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, District of Columbia lost 32,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.2 percentage points from 5.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In November, District of Columbia’s private sector lost 700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 8,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 2,200 net private payroll jobs.

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District of Columbia

Payroll employment

• District of Columbia lost 600 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 18,400 jobs. District of Columbia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 2 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November, or 0 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• District of Columbia lost 700 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 2,200 jobs. District of Columbia private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 69,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From October 2025 to November 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Other Services (+200) and Financial Activities (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-700) and Federal Government (-400).

From November 2024 to November 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+900) and Other Services (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-24,700) and Professional and Business Services (-6,500).

District of Columbia

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.

• District of Columbia ranks 1st in the nation.