January 2026 | Released April 08, 2026
Download the full PDF for Maryland
Download the summary PDF for Maryland
United States
Employment snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.
The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.
Maryland
Employment snapshot
In January, Maryland added 4,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Maryland remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Maryland lost 49,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 3.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Maryland ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Maryland’s private sector added 10,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 24,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland added 400 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Maryland fell by 7,576, and over the past 12 months it fell by 49,455.
Maryland’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.1 percent in January from 64.2 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 4,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Maryland remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Maryland ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Maryland added 10,100 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Maryland added 400 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Maryland ranks 50th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From December 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+4,200) and Construction (+2,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-5,400) and Information (-1,200).
From January 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+6,700) and State and Local Government (+6,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-31,100) and Professional and Business Services (-17,000).
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 64.1 percent in January from 64.2 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 64.1 percent in January 2026.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.