Hiring and Attrition — December 2025
Release Date: January 8, 2026
Summary
Hiring appears to finally be showing signs of improvement after a years-long slowdown. The annualized hiring rate ticked up from 24.2% in November to 25.0% in December, giving job seekers some additional hope going into the new year. The increase in hiring was led by the Information and Financial Activities sectors. Attrition also ticked up along with hiring, but not as much, leading to the relatively strong job gains posted in December. Overall, the increase in hiring and attrition will be a welcome sign for a labor market that was swiftly losing its dynamism.
Hiring rates by sector
Hiring rates by sector for October, November, and December 2025, including year-over-year and month-over-month changes.
Sector | October 2025 | November 2025 | December 2025 | YoY change (pp) (Dec 24–Dec 25) | MoM change (pp) (Nov 25–Dec 25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total US | 23.8% | 24.2% | 25.0% | +0.8 pp | +0.8 pp |
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 25.6% | 26.7% | 27.5% | -0.8 pp | +0.8 pp |
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 26.1% | 25.1% | 26.4% | +4.0 pp | +1.3 pp |
Utilities | 37.5% | 40.0% | 40.8% | +4.6 pp | +0.8 pp |
Construction | 26.3% | 26.3% | 28.0% | +3.4 pp | +1.7 pp |
Manufacturing | 30.1% | 30.9% | 31.7% | +4.8 pp | +0.8 pp |
Wholesale Trade | 20.7% | 20.8% | 21.4% | +1.7 pp | +0.6 pp |
Retail Trade | 12.9% | 13.2% | 14.1% | -1.3 pp | +0.9 pp |
Transportation and Warehousing | 18.3% | 18.5% | 20.2% | +0.0 pp | +1.7 pp |
Information | 54.3% | 56.1% | 63.1% | +16.5 pp | +7.0 pp |
Financial Activities | 36.3% | 36.5% | 36.8% | +5.1 pp | +0.3 pp |
Professional and Business Services | 31.8% | 31.7% | 32.5% | +3.9 pp | +0.8 pp |
Education and Health Services | 24.5% | 25.2% | 26.0% | -2.1 pp | +0.8 pp |
Leisure and Hospitality | 15.6% | 15.6% | 16.1% | -2.3 pp | +0.5 pp |
Other Services (except Public Administration) | 26.1% | 26.1% | 26.7% | -1.0 pp | +0.6 pp |
Public Administration | 16.7% | 17.4% | 17.5% | -2.4 pp | +0.1 pp |
Unclassified | 13.5% | 12.8% | 13.3% | -2.1 pp | +0.5 pp |
Attrition rates by sector
Attrition rates by sector for October, November, and December 2025, including year-over-year and month-over-month changes.
Sector | October 2025 | November 2025 | December 2025 | YoY change (pp) (Dec 24–Dec 25) | MoM change (pp) (Nov 25–Dec 25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total US | 23.9% | 24.0% | 24.5% | +0.7 pp | +0.5 pp |
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 26.6% | 27.0% | 25.1% | -4.3 pp | -1.9 pp |
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 27.6% | 26.5% | 28.0% | +4.0 pp | +1.5 pp |
Utilities | 38.3% | 38.7% | 39.5% | +5.5 pp | +0.8 pp |
Construction | 26.0% | 26.2% | 26.8% | +3.7 pp | +0.6 pp |
Manufacturing | 30.1% | 30.8% | 32.0% | +4.0 pp | +1.2 pp |
Wholesale Trade | 21.3% | 21.3% | 21.7% | +1.4 pp | +0.4 pp |
Retail Trade | 15.1% | 14.8% | 15.2% | -1.3 pp | +0.4 pp |
Transportation and Warehousing | 19.6% | 19.8% | 21.2% | +0.6 pp | +1.4 pp |
Information | 53.5% | 55.2% | 50.8% | +12.2 pp | -4.4 pp |
Financial Activities | 34.1% | 34.5% | 35.7% | +5.4 pp | +1.2 pp |
Professional and Business Services | 29.9% | 30.5% | 31.3% | +3.6 pp | +0.8 pp |
Education and Health Services | 23.9% | 23.8% | 24.3% | -2.0 pp | +0.5 pp |
Leisure and Hospitality | 16.8% | 16.7% | 17.2% | -2.0 pp | +0.5 pp |
Other Services (except Public Administration) | 26.1% | 25.9% | 26.1% | -2.8 pp | +0.2 pp |
Public Administration | 18.0% | 17.2% | 17.6% | -1.8 pp | +0.4 pp |
Unclassified | 13.9% | 13.6% | 14.9% | -1.2 pp | +1.3 pp |
