Department of Numbers

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Baltimore rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 1.9%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Maryland rate. The unemployment rate in Baltimore peaked in April 2020 at 9.5% and is now 7.6 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 1.8% in August 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Baltimore unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Maryland 1.8% +0.1 -1.3
Baltimore 1.9% +0.1 -1.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Baltimore, Maryland, National

Baltimore, Maryland monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Baltimore, Maryland Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Baltimore peaked in April 2020 at 142,146. There are now 113,922 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 26,142 in September 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,082. Baltimore employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Baltimore, Maryland) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Baltimore 28,224 +766 -17,213

Number of Unemployed Persons

Baltimore, Maryland Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Maryland
Unemployment Rate
Baltimore
Unemployment Rate
Baltimore
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 1.8% 1.9% 28,224
October
2023
3.8% 1.7% 1.8% 27,458
September
2023
3.8% 1.6% 1.8% 26,142
August
2023
3.8% 1.7% 1.8% 26,358
July
2023
3.5% 1.8% 1.9% 28,796
June
2023
3.6% 2.0% 2.2% 32,729
May
2023
3.7% 2.4% 2.5% 37,345
April
2023
3.4% 2.5% 2.6% 38,755
March
2023
3.5% 2.7% 2.8% 40,917
February
2023
3.6% 2.9% 2.9% 43,216
January
2023
3.4% 3.0% 3.0% 43,986

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.