US Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.6 Percent, Highest Level Since September 2021

EconomyBreakingThe delayed jobs report shows employment gains topped economists’ expectations.A “We’re Hiring” sign at a mall in Marietta, Ga., on Feb. 22, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch TimesAndrew Moran12/16/2025|Updated: 12/16/20250:00U.S. payrolls topped market estimates in November, but the unemployment rate rose to a higher-than-expected level, signaling further cooling in the labor market.Andrew MoranAuthorAndrew Moran has been writing about business, economics, and finance for more than a decade. He is the author of “The War on Cash.”Author’s Selected ArticlesGen X Workers Staring Down a ‘Retirement Crisis,’ Apollo Chief Economist WarnsDec 15, 2025Tuesday’s Jobs Report to Test Resilience of US Labor MarketDec 15, 2025Trump Wants Tiny Cars in America: What to KnowDec 13, 2025Sanctioned Oil Tanker Seized by US Near Venezuela: What to KnowDec 12, 2025