News Release, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation
BALTIMORE (May 17, 2019) – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today released state jobs and unemployment data. According to the preliminary survey data, Maryland added 1,200 jobs last month, the third month this year to post over-the-month job gains. Compared with this time last year, Maryland jobs are up by 19,300 for an over-the-year increase of 0.7%. Maryland’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.8%.
“Now is an ideal time to invest in your employees,” said Acting Labor Secretary James E. Rzepkowski. “Programs like apprenticeship and EARN Maryland can increase skills and strengthen the workforce through training, education, and certification. I encourage those employers looking for ways to upskill their staff and fill their talent pipeline to contact the Maryland Department of Labor.”
Last month, the Professional and Business Services sector experienced the most growth with 3,600 jobs from the Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (3,400 jobs) and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (300 jobs) subsectors. (This growth was offset by a decrease of 100 jobs in the Management of Companies and Enterprises subsector.) Other sectors that experienced growth last month include: Other Services (600 jobs); Education and Health Services (500 jobs); Mining, Logging, and Construction (300 jobs); and Information (300 jobs).
Several sectors experienced decline, including Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, which decreased by 1,700 jobs across the Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities subsector (1,600 jobs) and the Retail Trade subsector (200 jobs). (This decline was offset by an increase of 100 jobs in the Wholesale Trade subsector.) Other sectors that experienced decline last month include: Leisure and Hospitality (1,500 jobs); Financial Activities (1,100 jobs); and Manufacturing (100 jobs).
February’s preliminary jobs estimate as reported by BLS was revised downwards by 800 jobs, from a gain of 3,100 to a gain of 2,300 jobs.