US job growth bounces back in November after rough October

Business Dec 17, 2025

After a tough October with big job losses, the US added 64,000 new jobs in November—mostly thanks to private companies hiring again.
Still, unemployment ticked up to 4.6%, partly because a long government shutdown threw off some of the usual reporting.

Where are the jobs coming from?

Healthcare led the way, adding 46,000 jobs (think clinics and hospitals).
Construction also picked up with 28,000 new roles, and social assistance grew by 18,000—mainly helping out families and individuals.

Federal jobs keep shrinking, but private sector holds steady

The federal government lost another 6,000 positions last month—down over a quarter million since January.
On the bright side, private payrolls have been growing steadily (about 75k per month recently), and average wages are up by 3.5% compared to last year.