September 2025

Released December 11, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 10, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent.

• In September, payroll jobs rose in 30 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Maryland

Employment snapshot

• In September, Maryland lost 9,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Maryland lost 1,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maryland added 4,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Maryland’s private sector added 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland lost 1,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Maryland fell by 7,135, and over the past 12 months it fell by 34,460.

• Maryland’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 64.7 percent in September and is tied for 13th 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 lost 9,000 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Maryland lost 1,300 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maryland added 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Maryland lost 1,300 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From August 2025 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,200) and Other Services (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-8,500) and Professional and Business Services (-1,100).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+15,700) and State and Local Government (+11,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-13,300) and Professional and Business Services (-7,000).

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 September.

• Maryland is tied for 13th 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 September 2025.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.