Expect the unexpected in the last jobs report of 2025
CNN••general
Key Points:
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the final jobs report for 2025, with economists estimating December job gains between 55,000 and over 105,000, while the unemployment rate is expected to slightly decrease to 4.5%.
- Despite potential positive indicators, experts warn that underlying job growth momentum remains weak, with total employment growth in 2025 projected to be the slowest in decades outside of recession periods.
- Job gains have been heavily concentrated in health care and leisure and hospitality sectors, which accounted for 84% of new jobs in 2025, while most other industries experienced stagnant or negative employment growth due to factors like tariffs and immigration shifts.
- Recent data shows a decline in job openings and hiring activity
