Jobs, Unemployment & Labor Force · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
U.S. Total Nonfarm Payroll Employment by Year (1939-2025)
Total nonfarm payrolls count paid U.S. private-sector and government employees, expanding from 30.6 million jobs in 1939 to nearly 159 million in 2025. In 2025, nonfarm payrolls recorded 158.44Millions of Jobs, compared with 157.69 in 2024. Across the 87-year archive (1939-2025), readings have ranged between 30.64 (1939) and 158.44 (2025).
Series Summary Ledger
- 2025 Reading158.44
- 2024 Reading157.69
- All-Time High (2025)158.44
- All-Time Low (1939)30.64
- Reporting UnitMillions of Jobs
- Series CodePAYEMS
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) · 1939-2025
U.S. Total Nonfarm Payroll Employment by Year (1939-2025)
2025 Reading: 158.44 Millions of Jobs
Loading historical series...
DECADE BENCHMARKS (1950s-2020s)
Nonfarm Payrolls by Decade
| Decade | Mean | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 50.25 | 45.28 | 53.37 |
| 1960s | 60.86 | 54.10 | 70.51 |
| 1970s | 78.74 | 71.01 | 89.94 |
| 1980s | 96.89 | 89.68 | 108.05 |
| 1990s | 116.76 | 108.43 | 129.23 |
| 2000s | 133.38 | 130.33 | 137.98 |
| 2010s | 140.42 | 130.33 | 150.91 |
| 2020s | 152.17 | 142.16 | 158.44 |
Nonfarm Payrolls Year-by-Year Historical Table (1939-2025)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (PAYEMS)| Year | Nonfarm Payrolls (Millions of Jobs) | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 158.44 | +0.75 |
| 2024 | 157.69 | +1.80 |
| 2023 | 155.90 | +3.35 |
| 2022 | 152.55 | +6.26 |
| 2021 | 146.28 | +4.12 |
| 2020 | 142.16 | -8.74 |
| 2019 | 150.91 | +2.01 |
| 2018 | 148.89 | +2.28 |
| 2017 | 146.61 | +2.28 |
| 2016 | 144.33 | +2.53 |
| 2015 | 141.80 | +2.88 |
| 2014 | 138.92 | +2.56 |
| 2013 | 136.36 | +2.21 |
| 2012 | 134.15 | +2.24 |
| 2011 | 131.92 | +1.58 |
| 2010 | 130.33 | -0.96 |
| 2009 | 131.29 | -5.94 |
| 2008 | 137.23 | -0.75 |
| 2007 | 137.98 | +1.55 |
| 2006 | 136.43 | +2.41 |
| 2005 | 134.02 | +2.27 |
| 2004 | 131.76 | +1.43 |
| 2003 | 130.33 | -0.31 |
| 2002 | 130.63 | -1.44 |
| 2001 | 132.08 | +0.06 |
| 2000 | 132.02 | +2.79 |
| 1999 | 129.23 | +3.09 |
| 1998 | 126.14 | +3.21 |
| 1997 | 122.93 | +3.11 |
| 1996 | 119.82 | +2.41 |
| 1995 | 117.41 | +3.02 |
| 1994 | 114.39 | +3.45 |
| 1993 | 110.93 | +2.14 |
| 1992 | 108.79 | +0.36 |
| 1991 | 108.43 | -1.09 |
| 1990 | 109.53 | +1.48 |
| 1989 | 108.05 | +2.67 |
| 1988 | 105.38 | +3.26 |
| 1987 | 102.11 | +2.62 |
| 1986 | 99.50 | +1.97 |
| 1985 | 97.53 | +2.99 |
| 1984 | 94.54 | +4.25 |
| 1983 | 90.29 | +0.60 |
| 1982 | 89.68 | -1.61 |
| 1981 | 91.29 | +0.76 |
| 1980 | 90.53 | +0.60 |
| 1979 | 89.94 | +3.11 |
| 1978 | 86.83 | +4.23 |
| 1977 | 82.60 | +3.09 |
| 1976 | 79.51 | +2.44 |
| 1975 | 77.07 | -1.31 |
| 1974 | 78.38 | +1.48 |
| 1973 | 76.90 | +3.11 |
| 1972 | 73.79 | +2.46 |
| 1971 | 71.33 | +0.32 |
| 1970 | 71.01 | +0.49 |
| 1969 | 70.51 | +2.49 |
| 1968 | 68.03 | +2.09 |
| 1967 | 65.94 | +1.91 |
| 1966 | 64.02 | +3.15 |
| 1965 | 60.88 | +2.48 |
| 1964 | 58.39 | +1.63 |
| 1963 | 56.77 | +1.11 |
| 1962 | 55.66 | +1.56 |
| 1961 | 54.10 | -0.19 |
| 1960 | 54.29 | +0.92 |
| 1959 | 53.37 | +1.95 |
| 1958 | 51.42 | -1.53 |
| 1957 | 52.96 | +0.49 |
| 1956 | 52.47 | +1.73 |
| 1955 | 50.74 | +1.65 |
| 1954 | 49.09 | -1.22 |
| 1953 | 50.30 | +1.40 |
| 1952 | 48.90 | +0.98 |
| 1951 | 47.93 | +2.64 |
| 1950 | 45.28 | +1.45 |
| 1949 | 43.83 | -1.10 |
| 1948 | 44.93 | +1.01 |
| 1947 | 43.92 | +2.18 |
| 1946 | 41.74 | +1.23 |
| 1945 | 40.50 | -1.51 |
| 1944 | 42.02 | -0.58 |
| 1943 | 42.59 | +2.36 |
| 1942 | 40.23 | +3.62 |
| 1941 | 36.61 | +4.20 |
| 1940 | 32.41 | +1.76 |
| 1939 | 30.64 | - |