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.
Montana
Employment snapshot
In December, Montana added 2,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.4 percent. In the prior month, Montana added 400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Montana added 4,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 2.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Montana is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, Montana’s private sector added 1,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana added 600 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in Montana rose by 506, and over the past 12 months it fell by 934.
Montana’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.4 percent in December from 62.3 percent and ranks 30th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.
Montana
Payroll employment
Montana added 2,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Montana added 400 jobs. Montana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Montana is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Montana added 1,700 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Montana added 600 jobs. Montana private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Montana is tied for 9th 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 Construction (+1,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-300) and Professional and Business Services (-300).
From December 2024 to December 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+2,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,100) and Manufacturing (-1,000).
Montana
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 Montana rose to 62.4 percent in December from 62.3 percent in the prior month.
Montana ranks 30th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Montana was 64 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 62 percent in August 2021.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.