Jobs report December 2025:
CNBC••business
Key Points:
- The U.S. labor market showed weaker-than-expected job growth in December 2025, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 50,000, below the forecasted 73,000 and a downward revision for November and October.
- The unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.4%, and a broader measure including discouraged and underemployed workers dropped to 8.4%, while labor force participation edged down to 62.4%.
- Job gains were concentrated in restaurants, bars, healthcare, and social assistance, while retail jobs declined; average hourly earnings rose 0.3% monthly and 3.8% annually.
- The annual payroll gain of 584,000 in 2025 was the weakest outside of a
