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.

Minnesota Employment Snapshot

• In December, Minnesota added 4,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota added 2,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 39,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 2.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Minnesota is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Minnesota’s private sector lost 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 18,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota added 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Minnesota rose by 7,837, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,162.

• Minnesota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 67.8 percent in December and ranks 6th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Minnesota Payroll Employment

• Minnesota added 4,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Minnesota added 2,500 jobs. Minnesota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Minnesota is tied for 30th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Minnesota lost 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Minnesota added 1,200 jobs. Minnesota 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. Minnesota ranks 39th 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 (5,100) and Government (4,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-1,700) and Other Services (-2,200).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (40,800) and Government (21,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-4,300) and Professional and Business Services (-11,600).

Minnesota 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 Minnesota remained unchanged at 67.8 percent in December.

• Minnesota ranks 6th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Minnesota was 71 percent in July 2020, and the 10-year low was 67.1 percent in April 2020.

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