August 2025

Released September 19, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 12, and remained unchanged in 26.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In August, payroll jobs rose in 32 states and fell in 18. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Utah. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

Maryland

Employment snapshot

• In August, Maryland lost 3,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 9,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maryland added 11,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Maryland is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Maryland’s private sector lost 2,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland lost 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Maryland fell by 4,133, and over the past 12 months it fell by 29,861.

• Maryland’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 64.7 percent in August and is tied for 14th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.

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Maryland

Payroll employment

• Maryland lost 3,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Maryland added 9,200 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 22,000 in August, or 0 percent. Maryland is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maryland lost 2,000 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. 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 38,000 jobs in August, or 0 percent. Maryland is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From July 2025 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+2,700) and State and Local Government (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,500) and Other Services (-1,700).

From August 2024 to August 2025:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+17,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+15,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-13,900) and Professional and Business Services (-6,000).

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 64.7 percent in August.

• Maryland is tied for 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 64.7 percent occurring in August 2025.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.3 percent in August.