Maryland employment falls by 700 jobs in December 2025, including 400 federal jobs

BALTIMORE, MD (January 27, 2026) – New employment estimates released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that Maryland’s economy continues to face headwinds from the Trump-Vance Administration. BLS data suggest that Maryland lost 700 total jobs in December 2025, 400 of which were in the federal government. This means that Maryland has lost 25,300 federal civilian jobs since the start of the Trump-Vance Administration.

In addition to the federal losses, BLS estimates that Maryland lost 1,100 private sector jobs in December. Each month, BLS adjusts employment estimates based on typical seasonal hiring patterns; BLS data suggest that the loss in private sector employment is largely due to weaker than expected hiring around the holidays in Retail Trade, rather than increased layoffs. Losses were balanced out slightly by expansions in state and local government employment.

Although Maryland continues to face economic headwinds, BLS has revised its preliminary estimates for Maryland’s November employment level upwards by 2,200 jobs from prior estimates, largely due to an increase of 3,100 jobs in Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation, in the private sector.

BLS estimates that Maryland’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in December at 4.2 percent. Maryland’s unemployment rate remains below the national average of 4.4 percent.

Outside of the federal workforce, Maryland has added 95,900 jobs in the private sector and in state and local government during the Moore-Miller Administration and has expanded employment in these sectors at a faster pace than the nation overall (3.7 percent growth compared to 3.2 percent nationally).

The sectors with the largest employment gains in December were: Accommodation and Food Services (1,200 jobs); Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation (1,100 jobs); Government (400 jobs); Health Care and Social Assistance (300 jobs); Manufacturing (100 jobs); and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (100 jobs).

The five sectors with the largest estimated employment losses in December were: Retail Trade (-1,000 jobs); Wholesale Trade (-800 jobs); Construction (-500 jobs); Private Educational Services (-500 jobs); and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (-500 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