Total nonfarm jobs at 20th consecutive record high
31st consecutive month at or below national average
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) today released its preliminary employment situation report for December 2025.
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was unchanged over the month at 4.2 percent in December. The U.S. unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point from November to 4.4 percent in December.
The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate was one-half of a point above its December 2024 level of 3.7 percent, while the U.S. rate was up three-tenths from last December.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force — the estimated number of residents working or looking for work — was up 19,000 over the month to 6,570,000 in December. Employment was up 19,000 and unemployment rose 1,000 from November.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 300 over the month to 6,257,400 in December, the 20th consecutive month at a record high. Jobs increased from November in five of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest volume gain was in education & health services, up 3,800 over the month to a record high. Financial activities and professional & business services also set record highs in December. Over the year, jobs were up 76,600 with gains in eight of the 11 supersectors.
Additional information is available on the L&I website at www.dli.pa.gov or by following us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
The above data are seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. December 2025 data are preliminary and subject to revision.