Economic Development Statistics

Baltimore County is located in the north-central part of Maryland, and with a 2018 population of 832,431, it is the third-most populous county in Maryland. The County remains the top job center in the region and the second largest job center in the state.

The economy is diverse, vibrant and growing due to the region’s high quality of life and educated and skilled workforce.

Local Priority Industries

Nine industry clusters drive Baltimore County’s economic and employment growth. These diverse industries represent the highest concentrations of employment in the County and are the focus of the County’s economic development efforts. These nine core industries are projected to drive more than 75 percent of the County’s job growth over the next decade.

Baltimore County’s Key Targeted Industries

1. Transportation Distribution and Logistics (TDL)*
2. Construction
3. Manufacturing
4. Education
5. Healthcare (Health Services)**
6. Government—Federal, State and Local
7. Financial Services
8. Professional and Business Services
9. Information Technology

*Maryland's Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data for the TDL industry is segmented by service providing private-sector employers within the Trade, Transportation and Utilities industry sectors.

**Maryland's QCEW data combines Education and Health Services as one industry. However, the County Department of Economic and Workforce Development counts Education and Healthcare as separate industries.

2018 Employment by Industry

The table below displays the annual average employment by industry as compared to total Baltimore County employment for 2018.

*The total employment numbers of the Education and Healthcare industries were derived from the County data on 2018 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) for standard occupational classifications within these two industry sectors. There is a minor variance in the total employment number when compared to the QCEW combined total. 

While not included in the statistics above, the Leisure and Hospitality industry accounts for a significant number of jobs in the County. Conversely, the Natural Resources and Mining industry has seen a consistent decline in employment numbers. The table below displays the annual average employment for these industries as compared to total County employment for 2018.

Source: Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation QCEW 2018 Annual Employment and OES 2018.

In December 2019 the County had a 3.0 percent unemployment rate—down 0.3 percent from November's unemployment rate of 3.3 percent. 

The table below displays labor force statistics for the County and the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as of December 2019.

Based on Maryland's QCEW, the County employed 377,976 people in 2018. The County is projected to continue to experience positive employment growth, with employment projected to increase by 13,000 jobs by 2024.

Source: Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation QCEW 2018 Annual Employment and the Jobs of the Future Report (PDF)—Jacob France Institute. 

Disclaimer of Data Accuracy

Data shown are based on currently available County, MSA, State and national datasets. If you have any questions related to the data presented, we encourage you to email datasupport@baltimorecountymd.gov.