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.

Maine

Employment snapshot

• In December, Maine lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Maine added 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maine lost 4,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Maine is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Maine’s private sector lost 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 3,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine added 1,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Maine rose by 797, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,830.

• Maine’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59.7 percent in December and ranks 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Maine

Payroll employment

• Maine lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Maine added 1,500 jobs. Maine nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Maine is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maine lost 400 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Maine added 1,400 jobs. Maine private sector payroll employment has increased in 2 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Maine is tied for 48th 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 (+400) and Construction (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-400) and Information (-300).

From December 2024 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,400) and State and Local Government (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,200) and Professional and Business Services (-1,700).

Maine

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 Maine remained unchanged at 59.7 percent in December.

• Maine ranks 40th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maine was 63.7 percent occurring in February 2017, and the 10-year low was 58.2 percent occurring in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.