What the November 2025 jobs report means for employers
The November 2025 jobs report exhibits a labor market that continues to maneuver sideways. Job progress remained modest, general employment ranges modified little, and hiring exercise stayed concentrated in a restricted variety of sectors.
For employers, this factors to a market the place hiring remains to be attainable, however circumstances are unlikely to loosen or tighten shortly. Planning for regular, uneven circumstances—quite than a near-term rebound or decline—stays essentially the most sensible strategy.
Key takeaways from the November 2025 jobs report
- 64,000 jobs have been added in November. Complete nonfarm employment has proven little internet change since April.
- Unemployment was 4.6%, with 7.8 million folks unemployed. Each measures have been little modified from September and are larger than a yr in the past (4.2% and seven.1 million).
- Labor power participation held at 62.5%, and the employment-population ratio remained 59.6%.
- Common hourly earnings rose 0.1% in November and are up 3.5% over the previous yr. Manufacturing and nonsupervisory staff noticed a 0.3% improve.
- August and September payroll beneficial properties have been revised down by a mixed 33,000.
General, the information displays a secure labor market with restricted momentum and slim job progress.
Job progress by sector
Job beneficial properties in November continued to be concentrated in a small variety of industries.
- Well being care: +46,000
- Ambulatory well being care companies: +24,000
- Hospitals: +11,000
- Nursing and residential care amenities: +11,000
- Development: +28,000
- Nonresidential specialty commerce contractors: +19,000
- Social help: +18,000
- Particular person and household companies: +13,000
Job losses occurred in:
- Transportation and warehousing: –18,000
- Couriers and messengers: –18,000
- Federal authorities: –6,000
- Down 271,000 since January
Most different main industries—together with manufacturing, wholesale commerce, retail commerce, skilled and enterprise companies, leisure and hospitality, monetary actions, and data—confirmed little or no change.
For mild industrial and logistics employers:
Transportation and warehousing employment has declined by 78,000 since peaking in February, which can affect expertise availability and motion throughout associated roles in logistics-heavy markets.
Unemployment and labor power participation
The unemployment fee was 4.6% in November, with 7.8 million folks unemployed. Each measures are larger than a yr earlier.
Extra labor provide indicators embrace:
- Lengthy-term unemployed (27+ weeks): 1.9 million, or 24.3% of all unemployed
- Individuals not within the labor power who presently need a job: 6.1 million
- Marginally hooked up to the labor power: 1.8 million
- Discouraged staff: 651,000
The labor power participation fee (62.5%) and employment-population ratio (59.6%) have been little modified over the month and over the yr.
Wage progress
Wage progress remained reasonable in November.
- Common hourly earnings: up 0.1% in November; up 3.5% over the previous yr
- Manufacturing and nonsupervisory staff: up 0.3% in November
What employers can do now
With labor market circumstances holding regular, employers might profit from planning round continued variability quite than short-term change.
Focus hiring on operational impression
With general job progress restricted, prioritize roles that instantly assist manufacturing, security, service ranges, and supply commitments. Focused hiring might help keep efficiency with out overextending groups.
Design roles for stability and predictability
The rise in part-time employment for financial causes suggests some staff are looking for extra constant hours or clearer full-time pathways. Reviewing schedules, shift constructions, and function expectations might assist entice and retain expertise.
Anticipate expertise motion throughout associated roles
Declines in transportation and warehousing might have an effect on candidate availability in logistics-heavy areas. Employers might profit from recognizing transferable abilities and adjusting onboarding or coaching to assist transitions into mild industrial roles.
Evaluate compensation and workload alignment
Average wage progress offers a possibility to reassess pay ranges, time beyond regulation utilization, and workload distribution—particularly the place roles have advanced or absorbed extra obligations.
Construct flexibility into workforce plans
When demand is tough to forecast, short-term and project-based staffing might help handle fluctuations with out long-term commitments. This strategy permits employers to take care of productiveness whereas staying attentive to altering circumstances.
Employer outlook
Present labor market patterns counsel continued steadiness with restricted progress.
- Well being care and social help stay main sources of job beneficial properties
- Transportation, warehousing, and federal employment proceed to face declines
- Labor power participation stays secure however has not elevated
For employers, success will rely much less on reacting to month-to-month information and extra on working successfully inside sustained, uneven circumstances.
Put insights into motion
At Verstela, we assist employers translate labor market information into sensible workforce choices.
We assist organizations with:
- Native labor market insights
- Staffing methods for mild industrial and logistics roles
- Versatile staffing options to handle altering demand
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