BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland added 200 private sector jobs in September 2025, according to estimates released December 11, 2025, by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figure reflects modest growth in the private economy amid ongoing federal civilian job reductions and data volatility in public sector counts.
The August 2025 private sector estimate received an upward revision of 700 jobs, changing from an initial loss of 2,000 positions to a loss of 1,300. This adjustment highlights the preliminary nature of monthly data and the frequency of revisions in BLS reporting.
Federal civilian employment in Maryland declined by 700 jobs in September, extending a trend of cuts that began earlier in the year. BLS revised the August federal loss from 2,500 jobs to 1,300 jobs, a positive shift of 1,200 positions. Since January 2025, the state has lost an estimated 14,600 federal civilian jobs in total. These figures do not account for deferred resignations effective October 1, 2025, which will appear in later releases, nor do they reflect effects from the federal government shutdown from October 1 to November 12, 2025.
Local government employment showed an estimated drop of 8,800 jobs in September. Officials attribute this change to volatility in BLS data collection and processing methods. The September decline offsets a reported gain of 8,800 jobs in July 2025. Such fluctuations are common in local government due to seasonal factors, including the hiring and release of summer employees. Overall, local government employment has remained steady across 2025.
Maryland’s unemployment rate rose from 3.6 percent in August to 3.8 percent in September but stayed below the national average of 4.4 percent. The increase occurred as private sector gains were offset by losses in government and other areas.
Sector-specific changes in September included gains in Accommodation and Food Services with 1,400 jobs; Health Care and Social Assistance with 1,200 jobs; Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities with 900 jobs; Other Services with 800 jobs; and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services with 500 jobs. Losses appeared in Government with 9,200 jobs; Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation with 1,500 jobs; Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation with 900 jobs; Retail Trade with 800 jobs; and Information with 600 jobs.
Despite federal sector pressures, total nonfarm employment in Maryland has expanded at a slightly faster pace than the national rate during the Moore-Miller Administration, at 3.2 percent compared with 3.1 percent nationwide. Excluding federal jobs, the state has added 96,700 positions in private sector, state, and local government roles since January 2023, with non-federal employment growing by 3.7 percent, outpacing the national 3.2 percent rate.
Due to the October 2025 federal government shutdown, BLS did not collect unemployment or labor force participation data that month. No separate October employment release will be issued. Employment by industry data for October and November will be combined and released with November figures in January 2026.
The Maryland Department of Labor receives this data directly from BLS servers, which may result in a brief delay on its site. For the most current access, users can visit the BLS website. These monthly estimates provide indicators of economic trends, though revisions occur as more complete information becomes available. Maryland’s economy, with significant ties to federal employment in areas like the Washington metropolitan region, continues to show resilience in private and non-federal sectors.