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.
Tennessee
Employment snapshot
In November, Tennessee added 7,600 net payroll jobs. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 1,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Tennessee added 34,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Tennessee is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In November, Tennessee’s private sector added 6,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 29,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Tennessee added 400 net private payroll jobs.
Tennessee
Payroll employment
- Tennessee added 7,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 1,100 jobs. Tennessee nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 64,000 in November. Tennessee is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Tennessee added 6,200 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during November. In the prior month, Tennessee added 400 jobs. Tennessee private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 69,000 jobs in November, or 0.1 percent. Tennessee is tied for 15th 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 (+2,600) and Other Services (+1,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Information (-500) and Construction (-200).
From November 2024 to November 2025:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+9,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+8,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-3,000) and Financial Activities (-2,000).
Tennessee
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.
- Tennessee ranks 39th in the nation.