While the Maryland economy is rooted in manufacturing, trade, and transportation, it has emerged in recent years as a major technology center. A factor in this transition is the presence of key federal research and regulatory agencies in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. The state's economy is currently dominated by service-producing industries, accounting for two thirds of the state's employment in 2007.
Goods Producing Industries
Maryland's manufacturing industry is highly diversified, with 17 of the 20 major manufacturing groups (3-digit NAICS) well represented in the state.
For durable goods, significant employment is centered on computer and electronic products with nearly 22,000 workers.
According to the American Electronics Association, Maryland ranks sixth nationally by employment in defense electronics manufacturing.
Other important durable goods industries include machinery, fabricated metal products, and transportation equipment.
For non-durables, major employment is centered in printing, food, chemicals, and plastic and rubber products.
Service Providing Industries
Maryland employs a substantial number of workers in information industries, with 21,600 workers in telecommunications.
Professional and business services account for 16 percent of the state's employment.
Maryland ranks second in the nation in professional and technical workers as a percentage of the workforce, and has over 220,000 workers employed in professional, scientific, and technical service industries.
With its proximity to the nation's capital, Maryland is home to a large and growing base of membership associations and organizations with 25,000 workers.
The following table presents a breakdown of employment by industry in Maryland. A more detailed table is available from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Office of Workforce Information and Performance.
2007 Composition of Maryland Employment by Industry
(Annual Average by Place of Work)
Industry Group
Number of Business Establishments
Employment
Percent of Total Employment
TOTAL EMPLOYMENT
167,801
2,546,850
100.0%
TOTAL GOVERNMENT SECTOR
3,297
461,356
18.10%
Federal Government
1002
124,843
4.9%
State Government
384
98,634
3.9%
Local Government
1,911
237,879
9.3%
TOTAL PRIVATE SECTOR
164,504
2,085,494
81.9%
GOODS-PRODUCING
24,653
326,133
12.8%
Natural Resources and Mining
7148
6,556
0.3%
Construction
19,807
187,878
7.4%
Manufacturing
4,1324
131,699
5.2%
SERVICE-PROVIDING
138,512
1,758,249
69.0%
Utilities
142
9,922
0.4%
Wholesale Trade
10,462
95,191
3.7%
Retail Trade
19,767
301,258
11.8%
Transportation and Warehousing
4,161
65,802
2.6%
Information
2,832
50,646
2.0%
Financial Activities
15,751
154,556
6.1%
Professional and Business Services
35,965
396,733
15.6%
Education and Health Services
16,953
359,053
14.1%
Leisure and Hospitality
13,261
234,278
9.2%
Other Services
19,188
90,618
3.6%
UNCLASSIFIED
1,339
1,112
0.0%
Note: Details may not add to totals due to rounding and exclusion of some industries. Source:Office of Workforce Information and Performance . The statistics in this table are from Maryland's QCEW Program, which covers over 91 percent of all civilian employment in the state. Data is based on the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).
