Maryland employment rose by 11,700 jobs in July
Maryland’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.2 percent
BALTIMORE, MD (August 21, 2026) – New employment estimates released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicate total nonfarm employment in Maryland rose by 11,700 jobs in July. Maryland’s private sector drove job gains, adding 10,900 jobs. BLS also revised its preliminary estimates of Maryland employment in June up by 300 jobs to a gain of 1,200 jobs.
In total, BLS estimates that Maryland added 29,800 total nonfarm jobs in the first seven months of 2026 and grew at a 1.1 percent rate, which outpaces the national employment growth rate of 0.3 percent. While Maryland continues to recover from a year of federal job losses, BLS data suggest the state’s economy is resilient.
BLS estimates that Maryland’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.2 percent, slightly above the national average of 4.1 percent. Maryland’s labor force participation rate fell slightly to 63.8 percent, above the national average of 61.4 percent.
The five sectors with the largest estimated employment gains in July were: Health Care and Social Assistance (4,800 jobs); Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (3,000 jobs); Accommodation and Food Services (1,400 jobs); Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation (900 jobs); Manufacturing (800 jobs); and Government (800 jobs).
In total, five sectors experienced employment losses in July: Retail Trade (-1,200 jobs); Information (-300 jobs); Other Services (-300 jobs); Construction (-200 jobs); and Management of Companies and Enterprises (-200 jobs).
Note: Data is transferred to the Maryland Department of Labor’s website directly from BLS servers. Our database may be refreshed with a brief lag. For more immediate access to this month’s jobs data, please visit the BLS website. Please visit the Maryland Department of Labor’s website to view the current employment situation.
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The Maryland Department of Labor strives to create an equitable and inclusive Maryland where all residents have the opportunities and resources to attain financial stability, reach their career potential, and contribute to their communities; where businesses have access to capital and the skilled workforce they need to succeed; where workplaces are safe and well-regulated; and where the economy is resilient and growing. For updates and information, follow MD Labor on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and visit our website.
