MARYLAND (WBFF) — Maryland added a total of 2,700 jobs in August, according to new data released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.

Maryland’s growth rate in August was 0.1 percent, which matched the U.S. growth rate.

During the first 8 months of the year, Maryland’s economy added 31,800 jobs.

The new data also shows that Maryland’s labor force expanded by 5,233 new workers.

The growing number of Marylanders entering or reentering the job market impacted the state’s unemployment rate, which increased slightly by 0.1 percentage points in August, from 2.8 to 2.9 percent, according to the new data from the Department of Labor.

In August, the top five sectors that contributed to Maryland’s job growth were: Private Educational Services, Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, Government, and Real Estate, Rental, and Leasing.

The five sectors losing the most estimated jobs in August were: Accommodation and Food Services, Construction, Retail Trade, Other Services, and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.

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