Maryland Adds 7,800 Jobs in April
Largest Increase Since January 2023
BALTIMORE, MD (May 17, 2024) – Maryland added 7,800 total jobs in the month of April, including 4,800 in private sector industries and big gains in expanding sectors such as Professional, Scientific and Technical services. The monthly jobs data released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics today also showed that job growth in March was healthier than initially reported, with a revision to last month’s estimates that added 500 total jobs.
April’s report is the first to fully incorporate jobs data after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which disrupted operations at the Port of Baltimore, impacting hundreds of businesses and an estimated 20,000 workers who support daily Port functions. Most jobs at the Port lie in the Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities sector, which had a decrease of 1,000 jobs in April. To address employment impacts, federal, state, and local officials took swift, coordinated actions. Unified Command worked quickly to partially reopen the Port and has given a clear timeline for fully restored operations. Additionally, the administration has directed federal and state economic aid to impacted businesses and workers through programs at the Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, and Department of Housing and Community Development. The administration continues to monitor high frequency economic data and to work closely with stakeholders to understand the full scope of the impact from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Maryland’s economy.
These actions are supporting Maryland workers and businesses at a critical time. The Department of Labor’s Worker Retention Program, for example, has helped avert nearly 3,000 layoffs through grants to keep Port workers on the job, and the Department of Labor’s Worker Support program provides additional benefits to workers who have lost their job at the Port. “Our goal has been to keep as many Port workers as possible attached to their jobs so that as regular operations resume, businesses are ready to go,” said Portia Wu, Maryland’s Secretary of Labor. “Through targeted assistance we have been able to keep thousands of Port workers on payroll and provide thousands of additional impacted workers with temporary economic support during this time.”
Maryland also saw an increase in its labor force participation rate, rising by 0.2% to 65.2% Although Maryland’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly from 2.5% to 2.6% in April, it remains the 5th lowest in the nation. The uptick can largely be attributed to more Marylanders entering or re-entering the labor force looking for work.
The top five sectors adding jobs in April were: Government (3,000 jobs); Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (2,000 jobs); Accommodation and Food Services (1,700 jobs); Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (1,500 jobs); and Health Care and Social Assistance (1,500 jobs). The five sectors experiencing the largest declines last month were: Construction (-1,400); Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (-1,000 jobs); Finance and Insurance (-800 jobs); Wholesale Trade (-300 jobs); and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (-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.
The 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 Labor on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and visit our website.
