The US labor market is showing some interesting trends. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.6% in November 2025, the highest since September 2021. Nonfarm payrolls added 50,000 jobs in December, below expectations of 60,000. Key sectors driving growth include food services, health care, and social assistance, while retail trade saw job losses ¹ ².
Key Highlights:
- Unemployment Rate: 4.6% (up from 4.4% in September)
- Nonfarm Payrolls: +50,000 jobs in December
- Job Openings: 7.146 million in November (down from 7.449 million in October)
- Average Hourly Earnings: +3.8% YoY
Want to know more about how these trends might impact the economy or specific industries? Ask away!