Federal data released on December 16, 2025, indicates that the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, up from 4.4% in September. This marks the highest unemployment rate in four years and coincides with notable layoffs in both public and private sectors, particularly among federal workers. The Labor Department's report, which was delayed due to a government shutdown, revealed that U.S. employers added 64,000 jobs in November, following a loss of 105,000 jobs in October. The manufacturing sector, a key focus of previous economic policies, lost 5,000 jobs in November.

Over the past six months, the average job growth has been only 17,000 per month, raising concerns about the sustainability of the current economic environment. Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at the Groundwork Collaborative, stated that the latest jobs report indicates a stalling economy, with working families disproportionately affected by these changes. He criticized the previous administration's trade policies for failing to deliver the promised job growth, instead contributing to layoffs and increased costs for consumers.

Additionally, the report highlighted a slowdown in nominal wage growth, complicating the financial situation for workers as the unemployment rate rises. This trend suggests a diminishing ability for workers to negotiate higher wages, exacerbating affordability issues for families.

The release of these figures coincided with a tour by former President Donald Trump in battleground states, aimed at defending his economic policies, which are increasingly criticized by voters for contributing to rising prices. Julie Su, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation and former acting head of the Labor Department, noted that the administration has been withholding economic data, leaving both workers and employers uninformed during critical hiring decisions. She emphasized that the current economic conditions, characterized by high costs and job scarcity, represent a crisis that necessitates substantial reform to benefit working people.