- The most recent jobs report showed that between January and February, Maryland lost 5,800 Total Nonfarm positions, including 5,500 Total Private jobs and 300 Government jobs.
- Maryland’s greatest employment losses were in the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector with a decrease of 1,900 positions, followed by Education and Health Services with a loss of 1,700 positions.
- The unemployment rate for Maryland was 3.7 percent in February.
According to the most-recent jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), between January and February, Maryland lost 5,800 Total Nonfarm positions, including 5,500 Total Private jobs and 300 Government jobs. Maryland’s unemployment rate in February was 3.7 percent, unchanged from January.
The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities supersector had the greatest losses of 1,900 positions, followed by Education and Health Services which declined by 1,700 jobs. Manufacturing and Mining, Logging, and Construction were each down by 1,100 jobs (combined loss of 2,200 positions). Gains were seen in three supersectors in the state: Leisure and Hospitality (increase of 700 jobs), Other Services (gain of 300 jobs), and Professional and Business Services (increase of 200 jobs). Maryland’s subsector-level losses were the most substantial for Educational Services (down by 2,200 jobs); Transportation and Utilities (loss of 1,200 positions); and Mining, Logging, and Construction (down by 1,100 jobs). Subsector job gains were highest in Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services with an increase of 600 jobs. The Health Care and Social Assistance subsector and Accommodation and Food Service subsector both posted increases of 500 jobs each.
Neighboring states in the Mid-Atlantic region (Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.) also lost jobs between January and February, declining by 3,400 Total Nonfarm Jobs. Declines included 3,100 Total Private jobs and 300 Government jobs. Neighboring states’ greatest losses on the supersector level were in Education and Health Services which declined by 2,500 jobs. Manufacturing and Professional and Business Services also decreased by 2,000 and 1,300 jobs, respectively. Gains were seen in Leisure and Hospitality (up by 2,100 jobs); Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (increase of 1,200 positions); Mining, Logging, and Construction (gain of 600 jobs); and Other Services (increase of 300 positions). The unemployment rate for neighboring states in February dropped to 3.6 percent, down from 3.7 percent in January.
To make more sense of what’s happening with Maryland’s employment numbers, we’ve embedded our new tool: the Mid-Atlantic Regional Employment Workbook. This dashboard allows you to examine 29 different industries and see how employment is varying in Maryland as well as four other states in the Mid-Atlantic region. To use the dashboard select a sector of the economy that interests you from the dropdown at the top. When you change the sector of interest, the map and five line graphs will update to reflect historical data for that industry. Want to know how employment changed in the sector last month? Hover over each state in the map for percentage changes. Or hover over the line graphs to get more detailed information on the number of employees each month since January 2017 by state.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Employment Workbook
About the Authors

Daraius Irani, Ph.D.
Vice President
Daraius Irani, Ph.D. serves as vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research. He fosters the development of partnerships between business, government, and education that contributes to the economic vitality of our region. He also serves as chief economist at the Regional Economic Studies Institute and is often called on by state agencies, private companies, and local governments to provide insight on proposed policies, development, and economic forecasting. With a passion for all things economic, Daraius's posts focus on a wide range of topics from immigration to bicycling.

Katie Menking
Economist
Of note, the preliminary jobs report for June was revised up by 6,700 positions, resulting in an overall gain of 1,200 jobs (instead of the 5,500 job loss initially reported). The most-substantial revision was in the Administration and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services subsector, which was revised up from 172,400 to 177,000 jobs. The unemployment rate for Maryland stayed constant in July at 4.3 percent, unchanged from June.
Neighboring states in the Mid-Atlantic region (Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.) added 17,300 Total Nonfarm jobs, including gains of 16,100 Total Private jobs and 1,200 Government jobs. The greatest gains were in the Professional and Business Services supersector which added 11,500 positions, followed by an increase of 3,900 jobs in Leisure and Hospitality. The greatest losses were in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities supersector with a drop of 3,300 positions, and Mining, Logging and Construction which declined by 1,200 jobs. The unemployment rate for neighboring states fell to 3.8 percent, down from 3.9 percent in June.
To make more sense of what’s happening with Maryland’s employment numbers, we’ve embedded our new tool: the Mid-Atlantic Regional Employment Workbook. This dashboard allows you to examine 29 different industries and see how employment is varying in Maryland as well as four other states in the Mid-Atlantic region. To use the dashboard select a sector of the economy that interests you from the dropdown at the top. When you change the sector of interest, the map and five line graphs will update to reflect historical data for that industry. Want to know how employment changed in the sector last month? Hover over each state in the map for percentage changes. Or hover over the line graphs to get more detailed information on the number of employees each month since January 2016 by state.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Employment Workbook
About the Authors

Daraius Irani, Ph.D.
Vice President
Daraius Irani, Ph.D. serves as vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research. He fosters the development of partnerships between business, government, and education that contributes to the economic vitality of our region. He also serves as chief economist at the Regional Economic Studies Institute and is often called on by state agencies, private companies, and local governments to provide insight on proposed policies, development, and economic forecasting. With a passion for all things economic, Daraius's posts focus on a wide range of topics from immigration to bicycling.

Katie Menking
Economist