January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
Maryland Employment Snapshot
In January, Maryland added 4,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Maryland added 8,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Maryland’s private sector added 2,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 1,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland lost 600 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Maryland fell by 667, and over the past 12 months it rose by 7,111.
Maryland’s labor force participation rate fell to 65.1 percent in January from 65.2 percent and is tied for 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.
Maryland Payroll Employment
Maryland added 4,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,000 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Maryland added 2,600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Maryland lost 600 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 45th 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 January were Other Services (2,800) and Government (2,300).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,100) and Construction (-1,300).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (15,200) and Government (9,300).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-6,000) and Professional and Business Services (-9,900).
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 fell to 65.1 percent in January from 65.2 percent in the prior month.
Maryland is tied for 15th 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 64.7 percent occurring in December 2022.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.