From 1990 to 2002, the civilian labor force in the region grew gradually, dropping slightly to 1,322,481 persons in 2003. The 2003 figure equals an increase of 7.1 percent above the 1990 total. The labor force growth rate of the region lagged behind that of both the state and nation, which increased by 12.0 percent and 16.4 percent respectively.

During the 1990’s, the civilian labor force in the region grew at an average annual rate of 0.6 percent. This narrow increase was significantly lower than the average rates of 1.4 percent in the 1980’s and 2.5 percent in the 1970’s. From 2000 to 2003, the 2 percent rate of growth was a return to rates more characteristic of the 1970’s and 1980’s.

The single digit growth rate the region experienced from 1990 to 2003, contrasted sharply with the rates experienced by its suburban subdivisions. The civilian labor force grew at a faster pace in Howard County (35.2 percent), Carroll County (25.2 percent) and Harford County (22.3 percent). The 16.7 percent (58,000 persons) decline of the Baltimore City labor force was the factor that pushed the regional total down. Excluding Baltimore City, the labor force in the region actually grew by 16 percent from 1990 to 2003.

By 2003, nearly 46 percent of the total state civilian labor force resided in the region. Baltimore County claimed the largest share of workers (414,099), followed by Baltimore City (288,454) and Anne Arundel County (264,936).

The region’s labor force participation rate of 65 percent, while slightly lower than the state rate of 70 percent, was nearly the same as the national rate which was 66.2 percent. Within the region, labor force participation rates ranged from 77.1 percent to 51 percent. Howard County registered the higher rate while Harford County registered the lower.

In 2004, the 5.0% unemployment rate in the Baltimore region was about a half percent below the national average. The rate of joblessness was highest in Baltimore City (7.9 percent) and lowest in Howard County (3.3 percent).

Employment in the region grew by 140,000 jobs between 1990 and 2002. This 10 percent growth rate trailed both the state and nation, which increased by 13.7 percent and 19.4 percent respectively.

Baltimore City lost 86,971 jobs during this period. The 16.8 percent decline pushed City employment down to 429,270 and reduced its share of the region’s work force from 37 percent to 28 percent. However, the City maintained the second largest work force in the region. Baltimore County with 463,155 workers was the only county to surpass the City total.

By contrast, employment in suburban counties increased by 20.3 percent from 1990 to 2002 where it reached 1,119,723 jobs. Howard County experienced the fastest job growth of all jurisdictions with a 56.9 percent increase. The county’s share of regional employment rose from 7.7 percent to 10.9 percent. Carroll and Harford counties grew by 37.7 percent and 30.7 percent respectively, and now account for 4.7 percent and 6.4 percent of regional employment. Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties grew at modest rates of 15.1 percent and 24.4 percent and each saw its share of regional employment edge up to 30 percent and 20.3 percent respectively.

Industry Sectors and Groups

From 2002 to 2004, total employment by major industry group in the region was up by just over 1 percent, adding about 14,537 jobs. The United States grew at nearly the same rate. During this period, the region saw its government sector lose 4,774 jobs, a 2 percent decline. Of that total, local government jobs accounted for nearly 56 percent of the drop. In the United States as a whole, employment in the government sector remained relatively flat.

Private sector employment in the region reached 995,052 in 2004. That total represented a 2 percent gain over 2002. Service-providing jobs registered the greatest absolute gain among the private sector adding 23,401 jobs, a 3 percent increase. Among goods-producing jobs, employment in the construction sector rose 7 percent adding 5,189 jobs. These increases contrasted sharply with the 11 percent decline in manufacturing where 8,958 jobs were lost.

The Baltimore Region’s Key Sectors by Jurisdiction

Comparing 2002 with 2004, Harford County led the region posting an 8 percent gain in total employment by major industry group. While the Harford growth rate surpassed Anne Arundel County by only one percentage point, Anne Arundel was the leader in the absolute number of jobs with 13,211 new jobs.

In Anne Arundel County, the government sector shrank by 3 percent and the private sector grew by 9 percent. Service providing jobs grew by 10 percent. Among the service sector, financial activities made the greatest leap forward adding 2,973 jobs, a 35 percent gain. This gain was not just significant in the region; it represented 58 percent of the new financial activity jobs in the State of Maryland.

Manufacturing jobs in the United States declined 6 percent during this period. The State of Maryland lost 13,703, a 9 percent drop. Harford County was the only county in the region to gain manufacturing jobs. It added 655 jobs, a 14 percent increase. Manufacturing jobs were down 12 percent in Baltimore County and down 20 percent in Baltimore City. These jurisdictions, once the focal point of manufacturing in the region and the state, lost a total of 8,252 manufacturing jobs during this 2 year period.

Baltimore City suffered declines in every industry category. The government sector was down 3,833 jobs. Declines in local government contributed 72 percent of the loss. The private sector was down 11,091 jobs. Declines in manufacturing and financial activities contributed 74 percent of the loss.

Howard County led the region with the rate of growth in the government sector. It picked up 1,364 jobs, 70 percent of which were state government positions. The 33 percent increase in state workers served to negate the 10 percent loss of the federal work force.

In 2000, total employment in the Baltimore region by occupation reached 1,211,735. The top five occupational subgroups were (1) office and administrative support (201,700 jobs), (2), sales (130,724) (3) managers (120,340 jobs), (4) education, training, & library (69,892 jobs), and (5) production (59,571 jobs). These five groups contain 48 percent of the total employment by occupation.

Sales & office workers were 27 percent of employment by occupation. Professional workers were 24 percent of employment by occupation. Nearly a third of these jobs were located in Baltimore County which also led the region in most job classifications. However, Anne Arundel County was number one with computer & mathematical, construction & extraction worker supervisors and aircraft & traffic control jobs. Baltimore City led the region with healthcare support, protective services, buildings, grounds & maintenance and materials-moving workers.