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.
Pennsylvania
Employment snapshot
In December, Pennsylvania added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 2,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 76,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 82,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 1,600 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in Pennsylvania rose by 18,721, and over the past 12 months it fell by 13,460.
Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate rose to 61.6 percent in December from 61.5 percent and ranks 33rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.
Pennsylvania
Payroll employment
Pennsylvania added 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. 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 50,000 in December, 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 500 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 1,600 jobs. Pennsylvania private sector payroll employment has increased in each of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 37,000 jobs in December, or 0 percent. Pennsylvania ranks 4th 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 (+3,800) and Professional and Business Services (+3,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-4,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,300).
From December 2024 to December 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+50,300) and Professional and Business Services (+12,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-8,600) and Information (-1,800).
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.
The labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania rose to 61.6 percent in December from 61.5 percent in the prior month.
Pennsylvania ranks 33rd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania was 63.4 percent occurring in February 2016, and the 10-year low was 60.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in December.