December 2024

Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Alabama Employment Snapshot

• In December, Alabama added 1,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Alabama added 3,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alabama added 39,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 2.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Alabama is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Alabama’s private sector added 1,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 33,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alabama added 3,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Alabama rose by 1,054, and over the past 12 months it rose by 18,803.

• Alabama’s labor force participation rate rose to 57.7 percent in December from 57.6 percent and is tied for 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Alabama Payroll Employment

• Alabama added 1,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Alabama added 3,900 jobs. Alabama nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Alabama is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alabama added 1,200 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Alabama added 3,500 jobs. Alabama private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Alabama is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Education and Health Services (1,500) and Government (700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Mining and Logging (-100) and Financial Activities (-1,800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (11,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (7,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (-300) and Financial Activities (-1,600).

Alabama Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Alabama rose to 57.7 percent in December from 57.6 percent in the prior month.

• Alabama is tied for 47th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alabama was 57.7 percent occurring in December 2024, and the 10-year low was 55.4 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.