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Key Points:
The unemployment rate rose from 4.4% in September to 4.6% in November – the highest level since 2021.
- Due to the federal government shutdown, an unemployment rate for October is unavailable.
- The increase in unemployment was driven by workers on temporary layoff and an increase in unemployment for re-entrants to the labor market.
- The number of unemployed workers that permanently lost their job fell by 136K from September.
Change in Unemployment by Reason: Sept. to Nov. 2025
Seasonally Adjusted, Thousands
* Entrants equals the sum of new entrants and re-entrants, which are shown in light green in the chart above.
Employment growth fell sharply in October due to a reduction in federal employment as workers that had previously accepted a deferred resignation offer dropped off federal payrolls.
- Private employment growth has accelerated in recent months with the 3-month average of monthly job growth rising to 75K in November from 13K in August.
Employment Growth: 2024 - Present
Seasonally Adjusted, Thousands
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