Actalent Labor Market and Economy Report: A Look at Trends in December 2025

Executive Summary

Job Growth

The U.S. economy added 50,000 jobs in December. For the 12 months ending December, employment grew by just 0.4%.

The industries Actalent supports experienced the following job growth and loss last month: aerospace and defense (+3,900), architecture and engineering (+2,300), automotive (-700), construction (-11,000), health care (+21,100), manufacturing (-8,000), scientific research and development (+1,100), and utilities (+800).

Unemployment and Labor Force Participation

The unemployment rate fell to 4.4% in December, and the labor force participation rate slightly declined to 62.4%.

Unemployment rates specific to the industries Actalent supports were as follows for December: hospitals (1.8%), utilities (2.3%), professional and technical services (3.2%), manufacturing (3.4%) and construction (4.4%).

Among skilled labor categories Actalent sources talent for, unemployment in software-IT-mathematics was 3.7%, architecture and engineering was 2.1%, and sciences (life, physical and social) was 3.5%.

Inflation

The year-over-year inflation rate increased by 2.7% between December 2024 and December 2025, unchanged from the increase in November.

Wage Growth

Average hourly earnings increased by 3.8% for the 12 months ending December. “Real” average hourly earnings (wages adjusted for inflation) increased by 1.1% between December 2024 and December 2025. In other words, average hourly earnings are keeping up with inflation, but consumers may still be feeling the pressure of higher prices.