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.

Oregon

Employment snapshot

• In December, Oregon lost 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Oregon added 800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oregon added 5,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points from 4.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Oregon is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Oregon’s private sector lost 2,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 7,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon added 1,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Oregon rose by 1,660, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,476.

• Oregon’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.2 percent in December from 63.1 percent and is tied for 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Oregon

Payroll employment

• Oregon lost 2,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Oregon added 800 jobs. Oregon nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Oregon is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oregon lost 2,700 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Oregon added 1,700 jobs. Oregon 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. Oregon is tied for 27th 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 (+1,100) and Manufacturing (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-2,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,700).

From December 2024 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+12,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (+8,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-5,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,700).

Oregon

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 Oregon rose to 63.2 percent in December from 63.1 percent in the prior month.

• Oregon is tied for 24th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oregon was 63.2 percent in December 2025, and the 10-year low was 59.4 percent in April 2020.

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