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.

North Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In December, North Dakota lost 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota added 900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Dakota lost 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, North Dakota’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota added 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in North Dakota rose by 724, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,281.

• North Dakota’s labor force participation rate rose to 69.6 percent in December from 69.5 percent and ranks 3rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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North Dakota

Payroll employment

• North Dakota lost 800 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, North Dakota added 900 jobs. North Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Dakota lost 900 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, North Dakota added 600 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 42nd 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 (+500) and Other Services (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-900).

From December 2024 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,400) and State and Local Government (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,000) and Mining and Logging (-800).

North Dakota

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 North Dakota rose to 69.6 percent in December from 69.5 percent in the prior month.

• North Dakota ranks 3rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 70.9 percent occurring in April 2017, and the 10-year low was 68.5 percent occurring in January 2021.

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