March 2025
Released April 18, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In March, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In March, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 12. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Connecticut.
Maryland Employment Snapshot
In March, Maryland lost 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 1,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Maryland added 10,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In March, Maryland’s private sector added 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland added 2,500 net private payroll jobs.
In March, employment in Maryland fell by 7,079, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,790.
Maryland’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.9 percent in March from 65 percent and is tied for 16th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.
Maryland Payroll Employment
Maryland lost 1,200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Maryland added 1,200 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Maryland added 2,300 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Maryland added 2,500 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. Maryland is tied for 42nd 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 March were Professional and Business Services (3,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (900).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-1,600) and Government (-3,500).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (12,500) and Government (8,900).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Other Services (-3,000) and Professional and Business Services (-4,700).
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 64.9 percent in March from 65 percent in the prior month.
Maryland is tied for 16th 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 62.5 percent in March.