WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 50,000 jobs were added in December. The overall unemployment rate fell to 4.4% in December from 4.5% in November.
The unemployment rate for women fell slightly to 3.9% from 4.1%. Overall labor force participation fell slightly to 62.4% in December from 62.5% in November.
The overall decrease in labor force participation is in line with women’s labor force participation, which fell to 57.3% in December from 57.4% in November. Meanwhile, men’s labor force participation remained steady at 67.7% in December from 67.7% November. Both rates for men and women are still below pre-pandemic levels.
December saw strong growth in healthcare jobs, food service and drinking places, and social assistance. This was partially offset by employment losses in the federal government and in transportation and warehousing. Federal employment gained 2,000 jobs in December (following a decline of 6,000 in November), totaling 277,000 jobs lost since January 2025.
The University of Michigan’s gauge of consumer sentiment rose to 54 in January, up from 52.9 in the prior month. December’s sentiment marked the second straight gain and the highest level of sentiment since September.
Carrie Sheffield, senior policy analyst at Independent Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity, issued the following statement:
“America’s stable labor market is a positive sign for our economy, providing stability amid affordability concerns. Strong wages and rising consumer sentiment bode well for future job creation and economic growth.
“Washington has undertaken positive steps to continue to liberate the labor market through smart deregulation—especially President Trump’s powerful requirement that for every one regulation promulgated, 10 are removed. This frees up revenue for businesses to reinvest in their workforces by hiring or raising wages.
“We look forward to the continued progress toward tax and regulatory reforms that will enable job and wage growth, thanks to the Working Families Tax Cut (One Big, Beautiful Bill Act), as witnessed following passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
“These efforts bear fruit and continue to improve job creation for American families in the months ahead.”
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