May 2025

Released June 24, 2025

Released April 18, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Connecticut.

Maryland Employment Snapshot

• In May, Maryland added 2,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 2,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maryland added 25,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Maryland’s private sector added 4,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 22,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Maryland fell by 3,143, and over the past 12 months it fell by 19,098.

• Maryland’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 64.8 percent in May and ranks 18th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Maryland Payroll Employment

• Maryland added 2,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Maryland added 2,400 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maryland added 4,700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,600 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 21st 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 Leisure and Hospitality (1,700) and Education and Health Services (1,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-500) and Government (-1,800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (15,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (5,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-1,100) and Professional and Business Services (-2,000).

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 64.8 percent in May.

• Maryland ranks 18th 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 May.