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.

Tennessee Employment Snapshot

• In December, Tennessee added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Tennessee added 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Tennessee added 45,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Tennessee is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Tennessee’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 40,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 900 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Tennessee rose by 3,451, and over the past 12 months it rose by 36,742.

• Tennessee’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59.4 percent in December and ranks 41st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Tennessee Payroll Employment

• Tennessee added 500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Tennessee added 100 jobs. Tennessee 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. Tennessee is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Tennessee lost 900 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 900 jobs. Tennessee private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Tennessee is tied for 23rd 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 Government (1,400) and Education and Health Services (1,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,500) and Professional and Business Services (-1,900).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (22,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (6,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-300) and Information (-2,100).

Tennessee 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 Tennessee remained unchanged at 59.4 percent in December.

• Tennessee ranks 41st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Tennessee was 62 percent occurring in July 2019, and the 10-year low was 58.7 percent in April 2020.

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