November 2025 Jobs Report: Employers Add 64,000 Jobs

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U.S. employers expanded payrolls by 64,000 jobs in November, according to the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That figure is above economists’ expectations of about 40,000 jobs.

However, November’s jobs report, which is a combined employment reading for the past two months,* also shows that an estimated 105,000 jobs were lost in October as federal workers left their positions following cutbacks by the Trump administration. The BLS reports that the private sector added 52,000 jobs in October, while the government shed 157,000 jobs.

The November jobs report also notes that the U.S. economy saw 33,000 fewer jobs added than previously reported for August and September combined.

*The November jobs report was originally scheduled for release on December 5. The BLS delayed the release due to the 43-day federal government shutdown that ended on November 12, which impacted the agency’s efforts to collect and process labor market data.

Unemployment rate rises to 4.6%

The national unemployment rate was 4.6% in November—up from 4.4% reported in September and the highest level seen since September 2021. Economists had projected that the rate would remain unchanged. The BLS did not release an unemployment rate for October.

The unemployment rate for college-degreed workers has also ticked up since September, rising from 2.7% to 2.9%. These professionals are the most sought-after workers by many employers.

Private education and health services led job growth in November

The private education and health services sector was a significant contributor to job growth last month, with employers expanding payrolls by 65,000 jobs. Other industries that saw job gains in November include:

Construction: 28,000 jobs added

Professional and business services: 12,000 jobs added

Retail trade: 6,200 jobs added

Utilities: 1,000 jobs added

Industries that saw payroll contraction last month include transportation and warehousing (-17,700), leisure and hospitality (-12,000 jobs), manufacturing (-5,000 jobs), and government (-5,000 jobs).

Learn more about recent trends in the U.S. labor market.

New research suggests increased job search activity in the first half of 2026

In its Job Openings and Labor Turnover (JOLTS) summary for October, which included partial data for September, the BLS reports that job openings were 7.7 million. That figure is essentially unchanged from the previous report. The number of quits was 2.9 million in October, down from 3.1 million in August. But watch this space, as new research from Robert Half suggests the labor market may see more workers voluntary leaving their current jobs in the months ahead.

In a recent Robert Half survey, 38% of employed workers in the U.S. said they plan to look for a new job in the first half of the year—this is up from 27% in July and 29% one year ago. When asked about the top motivators driving job search plans, workers cited:

A desire for better benefits: 36%

Limited career advancement opportunities at their company: 34%

More competitive pay: 33%

Burnout: 24%

According to the research, the workers most likely to launch a job search in early 2026 include technology and healthcare workers (44%), Gen Z professionals (42%), and working parents (42%).

See more predictions for workplace trends in 2026.

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Understand 2026 compensation trends with Robert Half’s Salary Guide

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The Salary Guide From Robert Half covers compensation trends across 7 professional fields: finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, nonclinical healthcare, and human resources.

Our annual guide features exclusive data and input from employers and workers, and from our recruiters who staff tens of thousands of jobs each year. The Salary Guide can be a valuable resource, whether you’re hiring talent, developing a staffing strategy for your business or launching a job search.

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