American employers added 50,000 jobs in December, nearly in line with some analysts’ expectations and capping off a volatile year for the U.S. job market.
Last year was marked by relatively strong and steady job growth in the first few months of 2025, followed by noticeable cooling starting in May, with multiple months showing net job losses after revisions.
In December, the unemployment rate declined to 4.4%, down from 4.6% in November. November's rate was the highest rate since September 2021.
Payroll gains for October were revised down by 68,000, from -105,000 to -173,000. Payroll gains for November were also revised down by 8,000, indicating the labor market was weaker at the end of 2025 than initially estimated.
Payroll employment rose by 584,000 in 2025, down from an increase of 2 million in 2024.
