Maryland’s labor market showed resilience in May with the addition of 6,400 jobs, 5,200 of which were in the private sector, according to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The healthcare industry continued to drive the state’s employment growth, and the labor force participation rate increased by 0.1 percent to 65.3 percent, indicating more Marylanders are seeking employment.
The report also provided insight into the employment landscape following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, which significantly impacted operations at the Port of Baltimore. Jobs at the Port, primarily within the Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities sector, saw a decline of 1,600 positions between March and May, reflecting a broader trend of decreasing employment in this sector over the past two years.
Despite the challenges, swift actions were taken to mitigate the impact on Port-related businesses and workers. The U.S. Small Business Administration, along with Maryland’s Departments of Commerce, Housing and Community Development, and Labor, introduced various financial relief initiatives. Notably, the Department of Labor’s Worker Retention Program provided grants of up to $200,000 to 284 Port-related businesses, safeguarding over 3,100 jobs.
“The jobs data released today is encouraging. More Marylanders are looking for jobs, and through the great workforce partnerships we have in place in expanding industries like healthcare, we can meet the needs of businesses and job seekers,” said Portia Wu, Maryland’s Secretary of Labor. “I’m also very heartened to see that the State’s economic response, including our department’s Worker Retention and Worker Support Programs, have helped hundreds of businesses and thousands of workers stay afloat during this challenging time.”
Maryland’s unemployment rate remained one of the lowest in the nation, inching up slightly from 2.6 to 2.7 percent in May, primarily due to an increase in labor force participation.
The report highlighted significant job gains across various sectors in May. Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation led with 2,100 new jobs, followed by Health Care and Social Assistance (+1,600 jobs), Accommodation and Food Services (+1,300 jobs), Government (+1,200 jobs), and Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (+1,200 jobs).
However, not all sectors experienced growth. Job losses were noted in Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (-1,000 jobs); Wholesale Trade (-800 jobs); Retail Trade (-500 jobs); Private Educational Services (-400 jobs); Information (-200 jobs); and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (-200 jobs).
The Maryland Department of Labor has provided immediate access to the state’s employment data on their website. For more detailed and up-to-date information, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ website.
