July 2026
Released August 21, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.
In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.
Maryland
Employment snapshot
In July, Maryland added 11,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 1,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Maryland lost 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Maryland is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, Maryland’s private sector added 10,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 11,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland lost 100 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in Maryland fell by 1,025, and over the past 12 months it fell by 30,409.
Maryland’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.8 percent in July from 63.9 percent and ranks 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
Maryland
Payroll employment
Maryland added 11,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Maryland added 1,200 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Maryland is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Maryland added 10,900 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Maryland lost 100 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Maryland ranks 27th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From June 2026 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+5,400) and Professional and Business Services (+3,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900) and Other Services (-300).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+16,400) and State and Local Government (+7,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-18,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-14,000).
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 fell to 63.8 percent in July from 63.9 percent in the prior month.
Maryland ranks 15th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maryland was 69.3 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 63.8 percent in July 2026.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.