January 9, 2026
December 2025: 50,000 jobs added, worst year since 2020
Federal layoffs and weak hiring push 2025 to worst performance since pandemic
💰Economy🏛️Government
The U.S. economy added 50,000 jobs in December 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report released January 9, 2026. This figure fell below economists' expectations and marked the slowest December job growth of the past decade, aside from the COVID pandemic year of 2020.
For the entire year of 2025, U.S. employers added only 584,000 jobs total—averaging 48,000 per month. This represents a 70% slowdown from 2024, when employers added 2 million jobs. The 2025 annual total marks the worst year for job growth since 2020.
Outside of recession years, 2025 recorded the weakest annual job growth since 2003. Multiple sources confirmed this was the worst non-recession year for employment gains in over two decades, signaling significant economic cooling under the Trump administration.
The unemployment rate fell to 4.4% in December 2025, down from previous months. However, economists noted this decline resulted partly from statistical adjustments and methodological changes, rather than entirely reflecting genuine labor market improvements. The lower rate masks underlying weakness in job creation.
Job gains concentrated heavily in three sectors: food services, healthcare, and social assistance. This narrow distribution of growth indicates many industries experienced stagnation or contraction, with the economy unable to generate broad-based employment expansion.
The Center for Progressive Reform and other economic analysts noted "the job market doesn't have to break to be broken." Slow job growth below population growth indicates the labor market is deteriorating without triggering the mass layoffs typically associated with recessions.
The 2025 job growth slowdown occurred as the Trump administration implemented tariffs, trade restrictions, and policy uncertainty that economists cited as dampening business investment and hiring. The December report covered the final month before additional Trump administration economic policies took effect in 2026.
💰Economy🏛️Government
Test Your Knowledge
10
Q1
Food services added 27,000 jobs in December 2025.
Q2
How many nonfarm jobs did the U.S. add in December 2025?
Q3
What was the U.S. unemployment rate in December 2025?
Q4
The BLS revised October-November 2025 job figures down by how many jobs?
Q5
2025 was the weakest year for U.S. job growth since which year (excluding pandemic)?
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Start QuizPeople, bills, and sources
Donald Trump
President of the United States
Elon Musk
Head of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
William J. Wiatrowski
BLS Commissioner
Erika McEntarfer
Former BLS Commissioner
Federal workers
Government employees
What you can do
1
civic action
Demand House Oversight hearing on the BLS Commissioner's firing
Contact House Oversight Committee to investigate Trump's August firing of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after she released weak jobs data, examining whether political interference compromised statistical independence
Hi, I'm calling to demand a House Oversight hearing on Trump's firing of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer.
Key points to mention:
- Trump fired McEntarfer in August 2025 after she released weak jobs data
- The firing threatens the statistical independence of federal data agencies
- BLS data is essential for Federal Reserve policy and economic planning
- Political interference with economic data undermines public trust
Questions to ask:
- Will the committee investigate whether Trump's firing of McEntarfer constituted political interference?
- What protections exist for statistical agency heads who release unfavorable data?
Specific request: I want the committee to hold hearings examining Trump's firing of the BLS Commissioner and establish protections for statistical independence.
Thank you for your time.
2
civic action
File complaint on DOGE federal workforce reductions
Report violations of federal personnel law from DOGE layoffs including improper RIF procedures, political firings, and errors that resulted in hundreds fired incorrectly
info@osc.gov
Subject: Complaint Regarding DOGE Federal Workforce Reductions
Dear Office of Special Counsel,
I am writing to file a complaint regarding violations of federal personnel law in DOGE-driven layoffs.
Key points to include:
- 277,000 federal workers lost jobs in 2025 (9.2% of workforce)
- Trump's Jan. 28 executive order stripped legal protections from thousands
- Politico reported hundreds fired in error with chaotic implementation
- Trump publicly stated cuts would target 'Democrat agencies'
Specific request: I request OSC investigate whether DOGE layoffs violated federal personnel law including Merit System Principles and prohibited personnel practices.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
3
civic action
Support Federal Reserve independence amid political pressure
Contact Senate Banking Committee to establish statutory protections for Federal Reserve decision-making as Trump criticizes Fed policy based on jobs data
Hi, I'm calling to urge the committee to protect Federal Reserve independence.
Key points to mention:
- The December jobs report shows 2025 had the weakest hiring since 2020
- Trump fired BLS Commissioner after unfavorable data
- Federal Reserve needs accurate data to make policy decisions
- Political interference with economic data threatens Fed independence
Questions to ask:
- What statutory protections can Congress establish for Fed independence?
- Will the committee hold hearings on protecting economic data agencies?
Specific request: I want the committee to establish statutory protections ensuring Federal Reserve and BLS can operate without political interference.
Thank you for your time.