April 2026 | Released May 22, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 27.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in North Dakota.

Maryland

Employment snapshot

• In April, Maryland added 2,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 5,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maryland lost 33,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Maryland’s private sector added 2,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 14,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland added 5,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Maryland fell by 2,806, and over the past 12 months it fell by 44,340.

• Maryland’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.9 percent in April and ranks 15th 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 added 2,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Maryland added 5,300 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maryland added 2,400 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Maryland added 5,100 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Maryland ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From March 2026 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,000) and Other Services (-700).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+9,400) and State and Local Government (+6,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-24,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-12,800).

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 April.

• 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 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.