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Maryland Gains 14,600 Private Sector Jobs in January

Over-the-Month Job Gains Third Best in Nation

BALTIMORE (March 12, 2018) – 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 14,600 private sector jobs over-the-month, an increase of 0.7 percent, with notable job gains across multiple sectors.

“A healthy economy begins with a healthy workforce,” said Labor Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “The Hogan administration helps our state’s workers thrive through innovative workforce development programs like the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Program and EARN Maryland. The training, education, and supportive services provided to our workforce strengthens the talent pipeline and gives job creators the tools they need to prosper.”

12,900 total jobs were gained last month – a gain of 0.5 percent – bringing the unemployment rate to 4.1 percent. Compared with this time last year, Maryland jobs are up by 8,700, an over-the-year change of 0.3 percent.

“The Department of Labor strives to have full employment throughout every industry in the state, and we’re ready and able to assist Marylanders in their search for work,” said Secretary Schulz. “There are more than 140,000 employers in Maryland. Free services like our American Job Centers and Maryland Workforce Exchange help workers assess their skills and find positions with those employers.”

According to the data released today, the Professional and Business Services sector posted the highest gains with an increase of 6,700 jobs: 4,200 jobs within the Administrative and Support and Waste Management Remediation Services subsector and 2,600 jobs in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services subsector. (The Management of Companies and Enterprises subsector decreased by 100 jobs.) The Education and Health Services sector increased by 3,500 jobs across the Health Care and Social Assistance and Educational Services subsectors. Mining, Logging, and Construction grew by 2,300 jobs, while Leisure and Hospitality added 1,500 jobs. Other sectors that experienced growth in January include Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,100 jobs), Manufacturing (200 jobs), and Information (100 jobs).

Further, the state’s preliminary jobs estimate for December was revised upward by BLS by 9,200 jobs.

About the Maryland Department of Labor
The Maryland Department of Labor is committed to safeguarding and protecting Marylanders. We're proud to support the economic stability of the state by providing businesses, the workforce, and the consuming public with high-quality, customer-focused regulatory, employment, and training services. For updates and information, follow the Maryland Department of Labor on Twitter (@MD_Labor), Facebook and visit our website.

Employment Situation

Note: Data is spidered in on the DLLR website directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) using Datazoa and a slight lag may exist as the database is refreshed.

For immediate access to this month's jobs data please go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website.

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