United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 21.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Minnesota.
Maryland Employment Snapshot
In May, Maryland added 6,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.7 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 6,500 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Maryland added 6,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 1.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Maryland is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Maryland’s private sector added 5,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 7,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,500 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Maryland rose by 5,771, and over the past 12 months it fell by 17.
Maryland’s labor force participation rate rose to 65.3 percent in May from 65.2 percent and is tied for 14th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.
Maryland Payroll Employment
Maryland added 6,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Maryland added 6,500 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Maryland is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Maryland added 5,200 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,500 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Maryland ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during May were Professional and Business Services (2,000) and Government (1,200).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-100) and Information (-200).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (13,900) and Education and Health Services (13,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-5,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-8,900).
Maryland Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Maryland rose to 65.3 percent in May from 65.2 percent in the prior month.
Maryland is tied for 14th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maryland was 69.3 percent occurring in February 2020, and the 10-year low was 64.6 percent occurring in December 2021.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.