Maryland continues to gain jobs in public sector, healthcare but revisions for October dull their shine

HAGERSTOWN- Maryland’s total employment grew by 7,100 jobs in November, including 5,400 in the private sector, according to preliminary employment estimates released today by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Thus far in 2024, Maryland has added an estimated 40,900 jobs, including 31,300 in the private sector, and total employment has grown by 1.5 percent, faster than the national rate of 1.3 percent.

Employment gains in 2024 have been driven by strong growth in Health Care and Social Assistance (14,800 jobs); the public sector (9,600 jobs); Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (7,300 jobs); and Private Educational Services (6,200 jobs).

BLS further revised employment estimates for October up by 4,200 jobs, to a loss of 4,800 jobs. The estimated decline in October’s employment is largely the result of adjustments to account for seasonal hiring/layoff patterns.

In November, Maryland’s labor force continued to expand, as an estimated 2,700 new workers began searching for work. This increase in the labor force was enough to increase Maryland’s unemployment rate from 3.0 percent to 3.1 percent. Maryland’s unemployment rate remains one of the lowest in the nation and well below the national rate of 4.2 percent.

In November, the top sectors that contributed to Maryland’s job growth were: the Public Sector (1,700 jobs); Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (1,400 jobs); Health Care and Social Assistance (1,300 jobs); Retail Trade (1,100 jobs); Other Services (1,000 jobs); and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (1,000 jobs).

Only five sectors had an estimated loss in employment in November: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation (-2,800 jobs); Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (-400 jobs); Construction (-400 jobs); Finance and Insurance (-200 jobs); and Information (-100 jobs).