February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.

Maryland Employment Snapshot

• In February, Maryland added 3,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 5,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maryland added 18,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 2.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 32nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Maryland’s private sector added 4,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Maryland fell by 3,688, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,411.

• Maryland’s labor force participation rate fell to 65 percent in February from 65.1 percent and is tied for 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Maryland Payroll Employment

• Maryland added 3,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Maryland added 5,800 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 32nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maryland added 4,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,700 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 37th 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 February were Construction (4,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (2,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-1,200) and Other Services (-1,500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (15,600) and Government (13,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-2,200) and Professional and Business Services (-8,400).

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 percent in February from 65.1 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 fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.