BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland’s workforce saw a decline of 3,200 jobs in August, a decrease attributed to significant losses in the federal government sector, according to new data released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The job losses were split between a decline of 2,000 jobs in the private sector and 1,200 in the public sector. The public sector losses were led by a cut of 2,500 federal jobs, which was partially offset by minor gains in state and local government employment. Since January 2025, Maryland has now lost a total of 15,100 federal positions.
Despite the August downturn, the state’s total job growth remains strong since the beginning of the Moore-Miller administration. Maryland has gained 96,000 jobs during this period, a growth rate of 3.5%, which outpaces the national rate of 3.1%.
The state’s unemployment rate edged up from 3.4% in July to 3.6% in August, although it remains lower than the national average of 4.3%.
Several sectors experienced growth in August, with the largest gains in Construction (2,700 jobs), Accommodation and Food Services (1,400 jobs), and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (600 jobs). Other sectors with gains included Private Educational Services (500 jobs) and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (300 jobs).
The largest job losses were reported in the Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services sector (-1,900 jobs), followed by Other Services (-1,700 jobs), Government (-1,200 jobs), Health Care and Social Assistance (-1,100 jobs), and Manufacturing (-1,100 jobs).
