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.

Delaware Employment Snapshot

• In December, Delaware lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Delaware added 2,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware added 2,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Delaware ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Delaware’s private sector lost 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware added 2,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Delaware rose by 125, and over the past 12 months it fell by 4,876.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 59 percent in December from 59.2 percent and ranks 42nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.8 percentage points.

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Delaware Payroll Employment

• Delaware lost 400 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Delaware added 2,400 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Delaware ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware lost 600 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Delaware added 2,100 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Delaware ranks 47th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (400) and Government (200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Education and Health Services (-300) and Financial Activities (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (1,700) and Professional and Business Services (1,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900).

Delaware 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 Delaware fell to 59 percent in December from 59.2 percent in the prior month.

• Delaware ranks 42nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Delaware was 63.1 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 59 percent in December 2024.

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