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.
Iowa
Employment snapshot
In December, Iowa lost 3,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Iowa added 2,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Iowa is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, Iowa’s private sector lost 4,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,300 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in Iowa rose by 5,015, and over the past 12 months it rose by 27,369.
Iowa’s labor force participation rate rose to 67.7 percent in December from 67.6 percent and ranks 6th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.8 percentage points.
Iowa
Payroll employment
Iowa lost 3,300 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,600 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Iowa is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Iowa lost 4,400 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,300 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Iowa is tied for 33rd 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 State and Local Government (+1,100) and Financial Activities (+300).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,700) and Manufacturing (-1,300).
From December 2024 to December 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+7,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+5,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,800) and Professional and Business Services (-3,400).
Iowa
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 Iowa rose to 67.7 percent in December from 67.6 percent in the prior month.
Iowa ranks 6th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Iowa was 70.2 percent occurring in August 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.3 percent in August 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.