Payroll Growth Tops Expectations With 64,000 Jobs Added, Driven Largely By Health Care And Construction, While Unemployment Climbs To A Four-Year High, Underscoring Uneven Economic Momentum Across Key Sectors
Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 11:35 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Haylee Ficuciello, Economy & Finance Editor: Englebrook Independent News,
WASHINGTON, DC.- The U.S. labor market delivered a mixed picture in November, adding 64,000 jobs, surpassing economists’ expectations of roughly 50,000, even as the national unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, its highest level since 2021, according to the latest Employment Situation Report released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
While the headline payroll figure exceeded forecasts, the rise in unemployment and the narrow concentration of job gains point to continued softness beneath the surface of the labor market as the economy heads into the final weeks of 2025.
Job Gains Concentrated In A Handful Of Sectors:
According to the BLS establishment survey, which tracks payroll employment across industries, November’s job growth remained heavily concentrated in a few service-oriented sectors, a pattern that has persisted throughout much of the year.
Health care once again led all industries, adding 46,000 jobs, accounting for more than 70 percent of total net employment growth for the month. Gains were widespread across ambulatory health services, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities, reflecting sustained demand driven by demographic trends and ongoing staffing shortages.
Construction employment rose by 28,000 jobs, with strength centered in nonresidential specialty trade contractors. The increase suggests that certain areas of private and public investment continue to support hiring, even as higher borrowing costs weigh on broader economic activity.
Social assistance also contributed to November’s gains, adding 18,000 jobs, consistent with long-running demand for community-based services and care programs.
Losses Persist In Key Industries;
Despite the positive headline number, several major sectors recorded notable employment declines, offsetting much of the growth elsewhere in the economy.
Transportation and warehousing shed 18,000 jobs in November, continuing a broader downward trend that has resulted in tens of thousands of job losses over the course of 2025. The sector has faced pressure from slowing goods demand, excess capacity, and adjustments following the post-pandemic logistics boom.
Leisure and hospitality employment declined by 12,000 jobs, signaling softer consumer spending on travel, dining, and entertainment as households contend with elevated prices and economic uncertainty.
Unemployment Rises To Highest Level Since 2021;
The unemployment rate increased to 4.6 percent, marking its highest reading in four years. The rise was captured in the household survey, which measures employment status among individuals rather than payroll positions.
Economists note that an increasing unemployment rate alongside modest job growth suggests a labor market that is gradually loosening, with job seekers facing longer search times and fewer available opportunities outside of select industries.
Broader Economic Implications;
While November’s payroll gains exceeded expectations, analysts caution that the underlying composition of employment growth suggests the economy is losing momentum. Hiring remains uneven, wage growth has moderated, and participation across several sectors continues to weaken.
Federal Reserve officials are closely monitoring these labor market trends as they evaluate monetary policy decisions heading into 2026. A cooling employment picture could influence future interest-rate considerations, particularly if rising unemployment persists alongside slowing consumer demand.
Editor’s Note:
This report is based on official data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, covering employment conditions for November 2025. All figures cited reflect the most current and verified information available at the time of publication. Haylee Ficuciello, Economy & Finance Editor, Englebrook Independent News, All Rights Reserved.
