December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Maryland Employment Snapshot

• In December, Maryland added 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.1 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 4,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maryland added 38,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points from 2.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Maryland is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Maryland’s private sector lost 1,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 27,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland added 2,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Maryland fell by 2,414, and over the past 12 months it rose by 7,438.

• Maryland’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.6 percent in December and ranks 14th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Maryland Payroll Employment

• Maryland added 200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Maryland added 4,400 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Maryland is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maryland lost 1,100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Maryland added 2,500 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Maryland is tied for 30th 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 December were Government (1,300) and Financial Activities (1,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-1,100) and Professional and Business Services (-2,000).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (21,400) and Government (11,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-900) and Construction (-3,900).

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 remained unchanged at 65.6 percent in December.

• Maryland ranks 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 remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.