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.
Missouri
Employment snapshot
In December, Missouri added 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Missouri added 3,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Missouri added 52,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 3.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Missouri ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, Missouri’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 22,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Missouri added 2,200 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in Missouri rose by 10,472, and over the past 12 months it rose by 50,896.
Missouri’s labor force participation rate rose to 64 percent in December from 63.9 percent and is tied for 17th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.8 percentage points.
Missouri
Payroll employment
Missouri added 800 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Missouri added 3,200 jobs. Missouri nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Missouri ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Missouri lost 800 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Missouri added 2,200 jobs. Missouri private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Missouri ranks 17th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+2,700) and State and Local Government (+2,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,000).
From December 2024 to December 2025:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+35,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+13,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-9,100) and Federal Government (-5,400).
Missouri
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 Missouri rose to 64 percent in December from 63.9 percent in the prior month.
Missouri is tied for 17th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Missouri was 64.7 percent occurring in February 2016, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.