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.
Iowa
Employment snapshot
In November, Iowa added 4,600 net payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa lost 1,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Iowa added 9,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Iowa is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In November, Iowa’s private sector added 4,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 7,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa lost 600 net private payroll jobs.
Iowa
Payroll employment
- Iowa added 4,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Iowa lost 1,800 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Iowa is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Iowa added 4,800 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Iowa lost 600 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 69,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. Iowa is tied for 27th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-100) and Other Services (-100).
From November 2024 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+8,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+5,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-3,200).
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.
- Iowa is tied for 6th in the nation.