Maryland led the nation in March, adding the most jobs in the country with 35,800. The boost in hiring marks the highest monthly job gain for the state since 1970 and the second highest since records started in 1939. Hiring was going on in every major sector, a first time since 1996. Some of March's gains represent a rebound from February's blizzards, however even non-weather sensitive sectors showed strong growth, according to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (MBED).
Maryland continues to outpace the nation in job growth, and it consistently remained at least 20% below the nation's unemployment rate, MBED says.
Part of Maryland's strong job growth in March is a result of a rebound from the effects of a record-setting season for snow, with weather-sensitive job sectors leading the way in the historic March growth. Construction added 5,200 jobs, administrative and support services added 5,300 jobs, retail trade added 4,700 jobs, and accommodation and food services added 3,900 jobs.
However, all major sectors added jobs, including some that point to a resurgence in sectors that could be on the mend. Manufacturing's 500 jobs added employment for only the third month in more than two years, as did wholesale trade with 1,700 jobs. The 2,4000 financial services jobs added was just the second increase since October 2008. Among reliable growth sectors, health services added 3,300 jobs, or 1 percent monthly growth, and government added 4,600 jobs, or 0.9 percent monthly growth, of which 500 were federal jobs.
Source: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins