Hiring slows in December to end the weakest year of job growth since the pandemic

"Hiring remained anemic in December, closing out the weakest year for job growth since the beginning of the pandemic. U.S. employers added just 50,000 jobs last month, according to a report Friday from the Labor Department. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate dipped to 4.4%, from 4.6% in November, while job gains for October and November were also revised down by a total of 76,000 jobs."

"Factories have been in a slump for the last ten months, according to an index of manufacturing activity compiled by the Institute for Supply Management. The sector has been hit hard by President Trump's tariffs, since many domestic manufacturers rely on some foreign components. "Morale is very low across manufacturing in general," said an unnamed factory manager quoted in this week's ISM report."

Job growth slowed dramatically in December as U.S. employers added only 50,000 positions and October and November gains were revised down by 76,000. Employers added 584,000 jobs for all of 2025, far fewer than the 2 million added in 2024, making 2025 the weakest year for employment growth since 2020. Health care and hospitality were among the few sectors adding jobs, while manufacturing lost 8,000 workers amid a ten-month slump tied to tariffs and rising component costs. Federal payrolls remain down 277,000 year-over-year, and surveys show rising worker concern about job security and reemployment prospects.

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