16 June 2023- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released state jobs and unemployment data today. According to the preliminary survey data, Maryland gained 2,500 jobs in May, and the unemployment rate decreased to 2.4%. This is the fourth consecutive month of record-setting low unemployment for Maryland. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 4.0% in May, the lowest rate on record (back to January 1976). The U.S. unemployment rate rose three-tenths of a percentage point from April to 3.7%. The Commonwealth’s unemployment rate was three-tenths of a percentage point below its May 2022 level, and the national rate was up one-tenth of a point over the year.
Other sectors adding jobs in Maryland include: Mining, Logging, and Construction (1,000); Professional and Business Services (800); Private Education and Health Services (600); Information (400); Manufacturing (300); and Other Services (200). Sectors that experienced a decline include: Financial Activities (1,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,100).
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – was up 1,000 over the month. Resident employment rose by 9,000 over the month and unemployment fell by 9,000.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 7,900 over the month to a new record high of 6,122,500 in May. This was the fifth month in a row that jobs have set a new all-time high level. Jobs increased from April in nine of the 11 industry supersectors with the largest gain in professional & business services (+3,700), which rose to a record high level.
Over the year, total nonfarm jobs in the Commonwealth were up 151,500 with gains in all 11 supersectors. Education & health services (+47,800) had the largest volume over-the-year gain among supersectors.
