December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

Download the full PDF for Vermont

Download the summary PDF for Vermont

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.

Vermont Employment Snapshot

• In December, Vermont lost 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.4 percent. In the prior month, Vermont lost 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Vermont added 4,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Vermont is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Vermont’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Vermont lost 1,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Vermont fell by 346, and over the past 12 months it rose by 3,147.

• Vermont’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.5 percent in December and ranks 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

---

Vermont Payroll Employment

• Vermont lost 600 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Vermont lost 600 jobs. Vermont nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Vermont is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Vermont lost 800 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Vermont lost 1,100 jobs. Vermont 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. Vermont ranks 35th 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 (200) and Construction (100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-200) and Education and Health Services (-200).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (2,200) and Professional and Business Services (1,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).

Vermont 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 Vermont remained unchanged at 65.5 percent in December.

• Vermont ranks 15th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Vermont was 67.8 percent occurring in January 2015, and the 10-year low was 61.9 percent occurring in December 2020.

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