U.S. Adds 50,000 Jobs in December as Unemployment Slips to 4.4%

Overview

• The Labor Department reported a 50,000 payroll increase for December 2025, with average hourly earnings up 0.33% on the month and 3.8% year over year to $37.02.
• Prior estimates were revised: October now shows a loss of 173,000 jobs and November a gain of 56,000, a net downward revision of 76,000.
• Hiring concentrated in leisure and hospitality (+47,000), health (+21,000) and social assistance (+17,000), while retail (-25,000) and goods-producing industries (-21,000) shed jobs.
• For 2025, the economy added 584,000 jobs versus about 2 million in 2024, averaging 49,000 per month compared with 168,000 the prior year.
• Markets and policymakers track these metrics as signals of labor-market cooling and potential implications for interest-rate policy.