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.

Oklahoma

Employment snapshot

• In December, Oklahoma lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma added 16,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 15th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Oklahoma’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 1,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Oklahoma fell by 3,119, and over the past 12 months it rose by 22,457.

• Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63 percent in December and ranks 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Oklahoma

Payroll employment

• Oklahoma lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,000 jobs. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 15th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oklahoma lost 300 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 1,900 jobs. Oklahoma private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Oklahoma 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 Professional and Business Services (+3,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-2,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,500).

From December 2024 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+8,000) and Professional and Business Services (+7,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,600).

Oklahoma

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 Oklahoma remained unchanged at 63 percent in December.

• Oklahoma ranks 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma was 63 percent occurring in October 2023, and the 10-year low was 59.7 percent in April 2020.

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