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December 16, 2025US EMPLOYMENT, NOVEMBER 2025 US employment data for October are affected by the lapse in appropriations from the government shutdown. Household survey estimates were not produced for October 2025.
Monthly change (November 2025 vs October 2025, seasonally adjusted)
US non-farm payroll employment increased 64,000 in November 2025, rising to 159.6 million persons.
The increase of 64,000 in US nonfarm payroll employment follows the revised decline of 105,000 reported for October 2025.
The US unemployment rate increased to 4.6% in November 2025. This is the highest unemployment rate since September 2021. The US unemployment rate has remained at or above 4% since May 2024.
The US participation rate edged up to 62.5% in November 2025. The US participation rate had stabilized below levels observed prior to the pandemic and has grown slightly since July 2025.
The US employment to population ratio edged down to 59.6% in November 2025. As with the participation rate, the US employment rate remains below pre-pandemic levels and has declined slightly since mid-2023.
Note: Canadian and US labour force statistics refer to different working-age cohorts.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics retrieved from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle