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.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In December, Washington lost 1,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Washington lost 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington lost 12,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Washington’s private sector lost 1,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 1,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Washington rose by 6,189, and over the past 12 months it fell by 10,738.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.5 percent in December from 62.4 percent and ranks 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Washington

Payroll employment

• Washington lost 1,300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Washington lost 100 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 in December, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington lost 1,000 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Washington added 1,500 jobs. Washington 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. Washington is tied for 33rd 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 Construction (+1,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,200).

From December 2024 to December 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+13,900) and Information (+5,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-11,600) and State and Local Government (-7,600).

Washington

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 Washington rose to 62.5 percent in December from 62.4 percent in the prior month.

• Washington ranks 29th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Washington was 65.9 percent in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 62 percent in August 2025.

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