As of Dec. 16, a total of 1,958 confirmed measles cases were reported in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (The CDC numbers do not include probable measles cases reported by jurisdictions that have not been confirmed yet.) Among these, 1,934 measles cases were reported by 43 states, and 24 cases were reported among international visitors to the U.S.

As measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination rates dwindle, the U.S. is experiencing the highest number of cases in more than 30 years. The CDC confirmed 49 outbreaks in 2025, and 88% of confirmed cases (1,713 of 1,958) are outbreak-associated. For comparison, 16 outbreaks were reported during 2024 and 69% of cases (198 of 285) were outbreak-associated.

Currently, the largest U.S. outbreak is in South Carolina. As of Dec. 16, the South Carolina Department of Public Health has reported 138 cases of measles since July 9, most centered in Upstate South Carolina, which includes Greenville and Spartanburg.

Another of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. has been confirmed in the bordering areas between Utah and Arizona. According to state health departments as of Dec. 16, 125 cases have been confirmed in Utah  while 190 cases have been confirmed in Arizona.

Earlier this year, CMM reported the end of this year’s largest measles outbreak centered in West Texas. As of Dec. 16, the CDC has confirmed 803 cases of measles in Texas since January—the most of any state this year. 

In September, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to change national guidelines on the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

In November, the Americas arm of the World Health Organization (WHO) said the continued measles spread in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. caused the countries to lose their measles-free status. The Americas was the first region in the world to eliminate measles twice. However, as of October, endemic transmission of measles has been reestablished in Canada, where the virus has circulated for at least 12 months. The U.S. is set to lose its measles-free status in January.

As of Nov. 7, 12,596 confirmed measles cases have been reported across ten countries (approximately 95% of the region’s cases in Canada, Mexico, and U.S.), a 30-fold increase compared to 2024. Twenty-eight deaths have been recorded: 23 in Mexico, three in the U.S., and two in Canada. Active outbreaks are ongoing in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Belize.

“This loss represents a setback—but it is also reversible,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Pan American Health Organization director, “Until measles is eliminated worldwide, our region will continue to face the risk of reintroduction and spread of the virus among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations. However, as we have demonstrated before, with political commitment, regional cooperation, and sustained vaccination, the region can once again interrupt transmission and reclaim this collective achievement.”

According to the delayed  release of the October/November 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employment Situation report, total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 105,000 in October and increased by 64,000 in November. The unemployment rate rose to a four-year high of 4.6% in November.

The BLS jobs report tracks full-time and part-time payroll jobs on employer payrolls. However, it does not measure the extended workforce—contractors, independent professionals, statement-of-work (SOW) consultants, and project-based talent—who power critical work across industries and operate outside the BLS methodology, today accounting for approximately 40% of the total U.S. workforce.

Workforce solution provider Beeline data from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 shows nonpayroll workers still remain active and expanding: 

• Hours billed by extended workforce talent increased 3.5% in October and 5.1% in November versus prior year.
• Assignment activity shows forward momentum. Assignment starts rose 4.9%, while ends declined by 0.5%.
• Growth is global, with assignments increasing in 45 countries, led by the U.S.
• Spend on flexible talent is up 6.2% year over year, as organizations channel budgets into external workforce strategies.

These trends align with the broader rise of independent work. According to the 2025 MBO Partners State of Independence report, 72.9 million Americans now work independently, and full-time independents have nearly doubled since 2020—from roughly 13.6 million to 27.6 million—contributing more than $1 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. 

“The reality is that work is not slowing, it is shifting,” said Doug Leeby, Beeline CEO. “Companies are investing in flexible, high-skill talent to remain competitive, and millions of Americans are choosing independent work as their primary career path. If we want an accurate picture of the labor economy, we must look beyond payroll jobs and recognize the critical role of the extended workforce. By taking this segment into consideration, organizations, policymakers, and analysts can better align workforce strategies with how the labor market is actually evolving.”