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.
Kentucky
Employment snapshot
In December, Kentucky lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 2,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kentucky added 6,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.8 percentage points from 5.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Kentucky is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, Kentucky’s private sector lost 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 2,000 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in Kentucky rose by 4,928, and over the past 12 months it rose by 29,345.
Kentucky’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 58.1 percent in December and is tied for 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.
Kentucky
Payroll employment
Kentucky lost 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 2,100 jobs. Kentucky nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Kentucky is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kentucky lost 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 2,000 jobs. Kentucky private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Kentucky is tied for 30th 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 Professional and Business Services (+1,800) and Financial Activities (+700).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,200).
From December 2024 to December 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+6,300) and State and Local Government (+3,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,600) and Federal Government (-2,800).
Kentucky
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 Kentucky remained unchanged at 58.1 percent in December.
Kentucky is tied for 45th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kentucky was 59.1 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 54.7 percent in June 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.