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.
New Hampshire Employment Snapshot
In December, New Hampshire added 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.6 percent. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 2,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Hampshire added 14,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In December, New Hampshire’s private sector added 2,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 12,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 1,500 net private payroll jobs.
In December, employment in New Hampshire rose by 411, and over the past 12 months it rose by 12,005.
New Hampshire’s labor force participation rate rose to 65.8 percent in December from 65.7 percent and ranks 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.
New Hampshire Payroll Employment
New Hampshire added 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 2,300 jobs. New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Hampshire added 2,400 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 1,500 jobs. New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire is tied for 8th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (800) and Leisure and Hospitality (800).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-200) and Manufacturing (-500).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (7,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,200).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-100) and Manufacturing (-1,100).
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire rose to 65.8 percent in December from 65.7 percent in the prior month.
New Hampshire ranks 13th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Hampshire was 69.1 percent in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 65 percent occurring in July 2023.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.