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.
Massachusetts
Employment snapshot
In November, Massachusetts added 2,400 net payroll jobs. In the prior month, Massachusetts added 4,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Massachusetts added 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 4.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Massachusetts is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In November, Massachusetts’s private sector added 3,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Massachusetts added 4,800 net private payroll jobs.
Massachusetts
Payroll employment
- Massachusetts added 2,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Massachusetts added 4,600 jobs. Massachusetts nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Massachusetts is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Massachusetts added 3,100 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Massachusetts added 4,800 jobs. Massachusetts private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 69,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. Massachusetts is tied for 42nd 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 Professional and Business Services (+3,900) and Financial Activities (+600).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,300) and State and Local Government (-600).
From November 2024 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,300) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-6,100) and Federal Government (-2,700).
Massachusetts
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.
- Massachusetts ranks 10th in the nation.