Flash Report: U.S. Unemployment Rose Moderately in November
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The U.S. unemployment rate rose from 4.4% in September, the most recent month for which prior unemployment data were available, to 4.6% in November, signaling further softening in the labor market.
- The economy added 64,000 jobs in November, rebounding from a sharp decline of 105,000 jobs in October that was primarily driven by a drop in federal employment.
- October household survey data were not collected during that month, meaning November flows into and out of unemployment could not be calculated.
Unemployment
November 2025
4.6%
The U.S. unemployment rate trended up moderately in November, continuing its gradual but steady ascent from 4.1% in June. The November jobless rate is substantially higher than its monthly average of 3.8% from 2018 to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the labor market was exceptionally tight.
Total nonfarm payroll employment grew moderately by 64,000 jobs in November, rebounding from a sharp decline of 105,000 jobs in October. The October decline was primarily driven by federal workers leaving their jobs after accepting deferred resignation offers, not by workers furloughed during the government shutdown, who are still counted as employed. The number of workers in part-time positions due to economic reasons (lack of opportunities) rose sharply in November.
Federal government employment has fallen by 271,000 jobs since peaking in January 2025 at about 3 million workers. Private sector employment averaged growth of roughly 60,000 jobs per month in October and November, but the federal government shed 161,000 jobs during the same period.
Citation
ldquoFlash Report: U.S. Unemployment Rose Moderately in November,rdquo St. Louis Fed On the Economy, Dec. 16, 2025.
This blog offers commentary, analysis and data from our economists and experts. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the St. Louis Fed or Federal Reserve System.
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