June 2026 | Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 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 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

Maryland

Employment snapshot

• In June, Maryland added 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 4,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maryland lost 18,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Maryland ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Maryland’s private sector lost 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 6,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Maryland rose by 3,368, and over the past 12 months it fell by 32,926.

• Maryland’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.9 percent in June and ranks 15th 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 900 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Maryland added 4,000 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Maryland ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maryland lost 400 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,700 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Maryland is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,700) and State and Local Government (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,900) and Manufacturing (-700).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+12,700) and State and Local Government (+7,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-20,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-15,000).

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 63.9 percent in June.

• 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 63.9 percent occurring in March 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.