November 2025
Released January 08, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota.
In November, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 15. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.3 percent in Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, and Mississippi. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in New Hampshire.
Pennsylvania
Employment snapshot
In November, Pennsylvania added 3,500 net payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 2,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 97,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Pennsylvania is tied for 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In November, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 2,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 101,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 7,000 net private payroll jobs.
Pennsylvania
Payroll employment
Pennsylvania added 3,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 2,300 jobs. Pennsylvania nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November, or 0 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Pennsylvania added 2,600 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 7,000 jobs. Pennsylvania private sector payroll employment has increased in each of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 69,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From October 2025 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,700) and Construction (+1,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).
From November 2024 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+50,900) and Professional and Business Services (+16,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-8,600) and Information (-1,600).
Pennsylvania
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.
- Pennsylvania ranks 33rd in the nation.