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.
Hawaii
Employment snapshot
In December, Hawaii lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.2 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii added 100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 7,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.8 percentage points from 3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Hawaii is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, Hawaii’s private sector added 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 500 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in Hawaii rose by 1,424, and over the past 12 months it rose by 12,437.
Hawaii’s labor force participation rate rose to 60.5 percent in December from 60.4 percent and ranks 38th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.
Hawaii
Payroll employment
Hawaii lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Hawaii added 100 jobs. Hawaii nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Hawaii is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Hawaii added 600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 500 jobs. Hawaii private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Hawaii ranks 1st 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+400) and Professional and Business Services (+200).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-700) and Manufacturing (-100).
From December 2024 to December 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+3,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+3,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-3,500) and Professional and Business Services (-800).
Hawaii
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 Hawaii rose to 60.5 percent in December from 60.4 percent in the prior month.
Hawaii ranks 38th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Hawaii was 62.4 percent in March 2017, and the 10-year low was 55.3 percent in September 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.