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.

Nebraska

Employment snapshot

• In December, Nebraska lost 2,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3 percent. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Nebraska lost 5,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Nebraska ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Nebraska’s private sector lost 2,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 5,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Nebraska rose by 2,014, and over the past 12 months it rose by 23,596.

• Nebraska’s labor force participation rate rose to 69.9 percent in December from 69.8 percent and ranks 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 1 percentage point.

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Nebraska

Payroll employment

• Nebraska lost 2,700 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 500 jobs. Nebraska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Nebraska ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Nebraska lost 2,500 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 700 jobs. Nebraska private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Nebraska 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+600) and Other Services (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,000) and Private Education and Health Services (-900).

From December 2024 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+4,800) and Construction (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,400) and Professional and Business Services (-4,200).

Nebraska

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 Nebraska rose to 69.9 percent in December from 69.8 percent in the prior month.

• Nebraska ranks 2nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Nebraska was 70.5 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 68.8 percent occurring in February 2024.

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