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.
Michigan
Employment snapshot
In December, Michigan added 5,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 1,900 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 33,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 5.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, Michigan’s private sector added 1,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 20,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan lost 100 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in Michigan fell by 8,166, and over the past 12 months it fell by 36,668.
Michigan’s labor force participation rate fell to 61 percent in December from 61.1 percent and ranks 36th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
Michigan
Payroll employment
Michigan added 5,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Michigan added 1,900 jobs. Michigan nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Michigan added 1,400 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Michigan lost 100 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 24th 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 (+3,900) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Construction (-3,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,200).
From December 2024 to December 2025:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+16,900) and Private Education and Health Services (+11,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-5,500) and Federal Government (-3,300).
Michigan
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 Michigan fell to 61 percent in December from 61.1 percent in the prior month.
Michigan ranks 36th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.3 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.