Maryland lost 3,500 public sector jobs, added 2,300 private sector jobs in March 2025

Employment data reflects initial federal government job losses

BALTIMORE, MD (April 18, 2025) – Maryland lost 3,500 public sector jobs in March 2025, driven by a loss of 2,700 federal government jobs, according to new estimates released today by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Maryland added 2,300 private sector jobs, but it was not enough to offset the federal cuts. The result was an overall loss of 1,200 jobs in Maryland.

March’s report is the first to reflect actions taken by the new federal administration that impact federal employees and contractors, including layoffs of federal workers, terminations of federal contracts, and grant cancellations. However, the March jobs report does not reflect the most recent reduction in force actions, employees who were placed on administrative leave or accepted “buyout” offers and are still being paid, federal employees who selected deferred retirement, or the ongoing tariff situation.

Maryland’s federal workforce is crucial to the state’s economy, and the concentration of federal workers in Maryland is second in the nation, following only Washington, DC. Accordingly, Governor Wes Moore has announced support resources to help Marylanders who have been impacted by federal layoffs and other actions.

These include a public servants resource website, to serve as a central location for information and resources to assist impacted workers and their families. Additionally, the Maryland Department of Labor resources webpage for federal workers and contractors provides information on unemployment insurance benefits, career guidance, and reemployment support, accessed by more than 50,000 web visitors to date.

BLS also reports that Maryland’s unemployment rate remained at 3.0 percent in March.

The five sectors with the largest employment gains in March were: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation (2,000 jobs); Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (2,000 jobs); Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (1,000 jobs); Health Care and Social Assistance (600 jobs); and Finance and Insurance (400 jobs).

The five sectors with the largest estimated employment losses in March were: Government (-3,500 jobs); Private Educational Services (-500 jobs); Construction (-400 jobs); Information (-200 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.

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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, Twitter, Facebook, and visit our website.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dinah Winnick