- The most recent jobs report showed that in December 2021, Maryland gained a total of 4,700 Total Nonfarm jobs.
- The official unemployment rate for Maryland decreased to 5.0 percent.
According to the most recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Maryland gained a total of 4,700 Total Nonfarm jobs in December. This was the result of a gain of 4,000 Total Private jobs and 700 Total Government positions. The unemployment rate decreased to 5.0 percent in December, continuing the rapid drop seen in the second half of 2021.
Between November and December, the largest subsector gain was seen in Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services, with an increase of 2,500 jobs. This was followed by a gain of 2,300 jobs in Retail Trade, an additional 1,200 jobs in Other Services. The most significant month-to-month losses occurred in Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities, which dropped by 3,800 jobs. No other declining subsector lost more than 800 jobs in December.
Maryland’s job growth in December was slower than other states in the Mid-Atlantic region, falling behind Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the District of Columbia in terms of percentage growth, although growth rates were low across the region. However, the state’s unemployment rate is either better than or tied with the rates for all other states in the region except Virginia. Despite significant improvement, Maryland’s unemployment rate remains tied for 37th among all states, as many other states also saw a large decline in their unemployment rate for December.
Between issues with the supply chain, difficulties in the labor market, and the continued effects of the pandemic, Maryland’s immediate economic future remains uncertain. With the situation evolving quickly, stay tuned for more updates on how employment is changing across Maryland, the region, and the country.
