From December 2020 to March 2021, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments in Maryland were 129,076, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 114,275, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that the difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment gain of 14,801 jobs in the private sector during the first quarter of 2021. During the previous quarter, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 28,031. (See chart 1.)

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all private businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private-sector establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See Technical Note.)

Gross job gains

In the first quarter of 2021, gross job gains represented 6.3 percent of private-sector employment in Maryland; nationally, gross job gains accounted for 6.8 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 2.) Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment due to expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. In Maryland, gross job gains at expanding establishments totaled 109,351 in the first quarter of 2021, a decrease of 14,904 jobs compared to the previous quarter. (See table 1.) Opening. establishments accounted for 19,725 jobs gained in the first quarter of 2021, a decrease of 3,711 jobs from the previous quarter

Gross job losses

In the first quarter of 2021, gross job losses represented 5.5 percent of private-sector employment in Maryland; nationally, gross job losses accounted for 5.4 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 3.) Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. In Maryland, contracting establishments lost 90,990 jobs in the first quarter of 2021, a decrease of 3,357 jobs from the prior quarter. Closing establishments lost 23,285 jobs, a decrease of 2,028 jobs from the previous quarter.

Industries

Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 9 of the 11 industry sectors in Maryland in the first quarter of 2021. Professional and business services had the largest over-the-quarter net job increase, with a gain of 4,690 jobs. This was the result of 30,692 gross job gains and 26,002 gross job losses. The retail trade industry had a net gain of 4,334 jobs. Leisure and hospitality showed a net gain of 3,731 jobs. Maryland’s transportation and warehousing industry sector had a net loss of 3,404 jobs.

For more information

The BED data series include gross job gains and gross job losses by industry subsector, for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as gross job gains and gross job losses at the firm level by employer size class. BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. Additional information is available online at www.bls.gov/bdm/.

The Business Employment Dynamics for Second Quarter 2021 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records. Most employers in the U.S. are required to file quarterly reports on the employment and wages of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) laws, and to pay quarterly UI taxes. The QCEW is based largely on quarterly UI reports which are sent by businesses to the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). These UI reports are supplemented by two additional BLS data collections to render administrative data into economic statistics. Together these data comprise the QCEW and form the basis of the Bureau’s establishment universe sampling frame.

In the BED program, the QCEW records are linked across quarters to provide a longitudinal history for each establishment. The linkage process allows the tracking of net employment changes at the establishment level, which in turn allows the estimation of jobs gained at opening and expanding units and jobs lost at closing and contracting units.

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. BED statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross jobs lost is the net change in employment.

Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as rates by dividing their levels by the average of employment in the current and previous quarters. The rates are calculated for the components of gross job gains and gross job losses and then summed to form their respective totals. These rates can be added and subtracted just as their levels can. For instance, the difference between the gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net growth rate.

The formal definitions of employment changes are as follows:

Openings. These are either units with positive third month employment for the first time in the current quarter, with no links to the prior quarter, or with positive third month employment in the current quarter following zero employment in the previous quarter.

Expansions. These are units with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net increase in employment over this period.

Closings. These are either units with positive third month employment in the previous quarter, with no employment or zero employment reported in the current quarter.

Contractions. These are units with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net decrease in employment over this period.

The full Technical Note for the Business Employment Dynamics program, which includes information on coverage, concepts, and methodology, can be found in the current quarterly news release online at www.bls.gov/news.release/cewbd.htm.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Maryland, seasonally adjusted

Category	Gross job gains and job losses (3 months ended)					Gross job gains and job losses as a percent of employment (3 months ended)
	Mar. 2020	June 2020	Sept 2020	Dec. 2020	Mar. 2021	Mar. 2020	June 2020	Sept 2020	Dec. 2020	Mar. 2021
Total private (1)
Gross job gains	125,118	99,904	221,885	147,691	129,076	5.7	4.8	11.2	7.3	6.3
At expanding establishments	100,565	74,530	178,493	124,255	109,351	4.6	3.6	9.0	6.1	5.3
At opening establishments	24,553	25,374	43,392	23,436	19,725	1.1	1.2	2.2	1.2	1.0
Gross job losses	151,252	443,298	110,106	119,660	114,275	6.8	21.5	5.5	5.8	5.5
At contracting establishments	119,459	363,319	93,463	94,347	90,990	5.4	17.6	4.7	4.6	4.4
At closing establishments	31,793	79,979	16,643	25,313	23,285	1.4	3.9	0.8	1.2	1.1
Net employment change (2)	-26,134	-343,394	111,779	28,031	14,801	-1.1	-16.7	5.7	1.5	0.8
Construction
Gross job gains	11,655	8,690	12,160	11,522	9,864	6.9	5.3	7.6	7.1	6.0
At expanding establishments	9,399	6,492	9,726	9,532	8,344	5.6	4.0	6.1	5.9	5.1
At opening establishments	2,256	2,198	2,434	1,990	1,520	1.3	1.3	1.5	1.2	0.9
Gross job losses	11,897	18,326	10,414	9,711	9,997	7.1	11.2	6.6	6.1	6.2
At contracting establishments	9,262	14,825	8,981	7,624	8,113	5.5	9.1	5.7	4.8	5.0
At closing establishments	2,635	3,501	1,433	2,087	1,884	1.6	2.1	0.9	1.3	1.2
Net employment change (2)	-242	-9,636	1,746	1,811	-133	-0.2	-5.9	1.0	1.0	-0.2
Manufacturing
Gross job gains	2,966	2,467	4,613	5,264	4,056	2.7	2.3	4.3	4.9	3.7
At expanding establishments	2,449	2,027	4,033	4,754	3,713	2.2	1.9	3.8	4.4	3.4
At opening establishments	517	440	580	510	343	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.3
Gross job losses	4,260	8,529	3,199	3,421	3,604	3.8	7.8	3.0	3.2	3.3
At contracting establishments	3,449	7,161	2,887	3,018	3,085	3.1	6.5	2.7	2.8	2.8
At closing establishments	811	1,368	312	403	519	0.7	1.3	0.3	0.4	0.5
Net employment change (2)	-1,294	-6,062	1,414	1,843	452	-1.1	-5.5	1.3	1.7	0.4
Wholesale trade
Gross job gains	4,246	2,756	4,792	4,334	3,607	5.0	3.4	6.1	5.4	4.5
At expanding establishments	3,412	2,126	3,864	3,677	3,031	4.0	2.6	4.9	4.6	3.8
At opening establishments	834	630	928	657	576	1.0	0.8	1.2	0.8	0.7
Gross job losses	4,295	10,633	3,967	3,245	3,429	4.9	12.8	5.0	4.1	4.3
At contracting establishments	3,404	8,459	3,027	2,295	2,494	3.9	10.2	3.8	2.9	3.1
At closing establishments	891	2,174	940	950	935	1.0	2.6	1.2	1.2	1.2
Net employment change (2)	-49	-7,877	825	1,089	178	0.1	-9.4	1.1	1.3	0.2
Retail trade
Gross job gains	17,000	15,421	38,276	17,183	18,891	6.1	5.9	15.3	6.6	7.1
At expanding establishments	15,528	13,287	33,014	15,449	16,685	5.6	5.1	13.2	5.9	6.3
At opening establishments	1,472	2,134	5,262	1,734	2,206	0.5	0.8	2.1	0.7	0.8
Gross job losses	17,126	61,702	15,536	15,893	14,557	6.2	23.8	6.2	6.2	5.5
At contracting establishments	14,988	52,283	14,505	12,896	11,619	5.4	20.2	5.8	5.0	4.4
At closing establishments	2,138	9,419	1,031	2,997	2,938	0.8	3.6	0.4	1.2	1.1
Net employment change (2)	-126	-46,281	22,740	1,290	4,334	-0.1	-17.9	9.1	0.4	1.6
Transportation and warehousing
Gross job gains	6,362	11,470	8,176	14,498	5,742	6.6	12.1	8.5	14.3	5.5
At expanding establishments	5,504	10,685	7,371	13,116	4,913	5.7	11.3	7.7	12.9	4.7
At opening establishments	858	785	805	1,382	829	0.9	0.8	0.8	1.4	0.8
Gross job losses	8,673	16,250	5,598	8,704	9,146	8.9	17.1	5.8	8.6	8.8
At contracting establishments	7,662	13,766	5,090	7,297	8,552	7.9	14.5	5.3	7.2	8.2
At closing establishments	1,011	2,484	508	1,407	594	1.0	2.6	0.5	1.4	0.6
Net employment change (2)	-2,311	-4,780	2,578	5,794	-3,404	-2.3	-5.0	2.7	5.7	-3.3
Information
Gross job gains	1,469	1,306	2,226	1,700	1,655	4.2	3.9	7.0	5.2	5.2
At expanding establishments	1,127	852	1,493	1,203	1,219	3.2	2.5	4.7	3.7	3.8
At opening establishments	342	454	733	497	436	1.0	1.4	2.3	1.5	1.4
Gross job losses	1,872	5,449	1,496	2,000	1,567	5.3	16.3	4.7	6.2	4.9
At contracting establishments	1,348	3,834	1,281	1,407	1,223	3.8	11.5	4.0	4.4	3.8
At closing establishments	524	1,615	215	593	344	1.5	4.8	0.7	1.8	1.1
Net employment change (2)	-403	-4,143	730	-300	88	-1.1	-12.4	2.3	-1.0	0.3
Financial activities
Gross job gains	6,047	5,510	7,208	7,699	5,802	4.5	4.2	5.6	6.0	4.5
At expanding establishments	4,604	3,832	5,657	5,781	4,424	3.4	2.9	4.4	4.5	3.4
At opening establishments	1,443	1,678	1,551	1,918	1,378	1.1	1.3	1.2	1.5	1.1
Gross job losses	7,245	11,981	6,564	6,493	5,779	5.4	9.2	5.1	5.0	4.5
At contracting establishments	5,735	9,656	4,999	4,813	4,276	4.3	7.4	3.9	3.7	3.3
At closing establishments	1,510	2,325	1,565	1,680	1,503	1.1	1.8	1.2	1.3	1.2
Net employment change (2)	-1,198	-6,471	644	1,206	23	-0.9	-5.0	0.5	1.0	0.0
Professional and business services
Gross job gains	29,656	24,616	39,129	35,270	30,692	6.4	5.6	9.0	8.0	6.8
At expanding establishments	22,739	17,719	28,954	29,575	25,662	4.9	4.0	6.7	6.7	5.7
At opening establishments	6,917	6,897	10,175	5,695	5,030	1.5	1.6	2.3	1.3	1.1
Gross job losses	32,259	57,347	28,264	26,076	26,002	7.0	12.9	6.5	5.8	5.8
At contracting establishments	25,430	44,301	23,513	20,154	19,863	5.5	10.0	5.4	4.5	4.4
At closing establishments	6,829	13,046	4,751	5,922	6,139	1.5	2.9	1.1	1.3	1.4
Net employment change (2)	-2,603	-32,731	10,865	9,194	4,690	-0.6	-7.3	2.5	2.2	1.0
Education and health services
Gross job gains	17,944	12,611	27,214	20,631	19,766	3.9	2.9	6.7	5.0	4.6
At expanding establishments	14,563	8,196	21,642	17,842	17,894	3.2	1.9	5.3	4.3	4.2
At opening establishments	3,381	4,415	5,572	2,789	1,872	0.7	1.0	1.4	0.7	0.4
Gross job losses	19,832	58,410	17,551	17,028	16,681	4.4	13.6	4.3	4.1	3.9
At contracting establishments	15,781	47,298	15,683	12,998	13,586	3.5	11.0	3.8	3.1	3.2
At closing establishments	4,051	11,112	1,868	4,030	3,095	0.9	2.6	0.5	1.0	0.7
Net employment change (2)	-1,888	-45,799	9,663	3,603	3,085	-0.5	-10.7	2.4	0.9	0.7
Leisure and hospitality
Gross job gains	21,796	10,623	66,363	23,270	22,206	7.8	4.8	34.7	11.0	10.3
At expanding establishments	16,480	6,615	55,470	18,625	18,756	5.9	3.0	29.0	8.8	8.7
At opening establishments	5,316	4,008	10,893	4,645	3,450	1.9	1.8	5.7	2.2	1.6
Gross job losses	35,386	172,165	11,571	21,237	18,475	12.7	77.3	6.1	10.0	8.6
At contracting establishments	27,117	145,464	9,126	17,423	14,403	9.7	65.3	4.8	8.2	6.7
At closing establishments	8,269	26,701	2,445	3,814	4,072	3.0	12.0	1.3	1.8	1.9
Net employment change (2)	-13,590	-161,542	54,792	2,033	3,731	-4.9	-72.5	28.6	1.0	1.7
Other services (3)
Gross job gains	4,655	3,496	10,738	5,408	4,736	5.6	4.7	15.5	7.5	6.6
At expanding establishments	3,605	1,949	6,511	3,964	3,741	4.3	2.6	9.4	5.5	5.2
At opening establishments	1,050	1,547	4,227	1,444	995	1.3	2.1	6.1	2.0	1.4
Gross job losses	7,638	21,234	5,021	4,801	4,277	9.1	28.6	7.3	6.7	5.9
At contracting establishments	4,700	15,185	3,534	3,463	3,188	5.6	20.5	5.1	4.8	4.4
At closing establishments	2,938	6,049	1,487	1,338	1,089	3.5	8.1	2.2	1.9	1.5
Net employment change (2)	-2,983	-17,738	5,717	607	459	-3.5	-23.9	8.2	0.8	0.7
Footnotes: (1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately. (2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. See the Technical Note for further information. (3) Except public administration.