Workforce
Howard County’s talented workforce is ready to support a variety of high-level industry needs. According to the U.S. Census, the Baltimore-Washington region ranks among the most well educated metropolitan areas in America, with Howard County residents among the best educated in the country.
Employers also can attract employees from neighboring counties easily, due to Howard County’s network of major highways. In fact, a workforce of over 2 million people lives within a 30-mile radius of Howard County.
Looking for a job or looking for employees? Visit the Maryland Workforce Exchange.
Link to critical workforce development information:
- Howard County Office of Workforce Development
- Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore
- MD DLLR’s Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning
- MD Department of Business & Economic Development
- Moderate Income Housing Program
Business Composition
The table below shows the distribution of industries in Howard County, Maryland for the 4th quarter, 2011.
CALENDAR YEAR 2011 |
|||
Industrys |
Average
|
Annual
|
Total Wages |
TOTAL EMPLOYMENT |
9,057 | 151,066 | $8,840,228,248 |
GOVERNMENT SECTOR — TOTAL |
143 | 18,280 | 920,168,905 |
| Federal Government | 31 | 649 | 48,857,941 |
| State Government | 14 | 3,523 | 161,618,447 |
| Local Government | 98 | 14,108 | 709,692,517 |
PRIVATE SECTOR TOTAL — ALL INDUSTRIES |
8,914 | 132,786 | 7,920,059,343 |
GOODS-PRODUCING |
1,140 | 16,703 | 1,095,670,794 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 29 | 714 | 25,235,609 |
| Construction | 880 | 9,617 | 585,318,285 |
| Manufacturing | 231 | 6,372 | 485,116,900 |
SERVICE PROVIDING |
7,772 | 116,083 | 6,824,388,549 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 1,725 | 31,325 | 1,521,012,175 |
| Information | 158 | 3,734 | 282,083,833 |
| Financial Activities | 860 | 8,791 | 675,344,237 |
| Professional and Business Services | 2,538 | 39,326 | 3,300,550,832 |
| Education and Health Services | 1,057 | 14,814 | 633,973,122 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 668 | 13,384 | 249,639,242 |
| Other Services | 766 | 4,709 | 161,785,108 |
UNCLASSIFIED |
2 | 0 | 0 |
For the most recent reports visit the DLLR website.
Maryland State Employment Composition
The table below shows the distribution of occupations in Maryland (no data available for Howard County, Maryland) for the 2010 – 2020 time period.
Rank |
Occupation Group |
2010 Estimated Employmennt |
2020 Projected Employment |
| 1 | Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 405,256 | 434,207 |
| 2 | Sales and Related Occupations | 268,632 | 284,229 |
| 3 | Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 197,693 | 221,028 |
| 4 | Management Occupations | 187,347 | 201,819 |
| 5 | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | 160,011 | 198,476 |
| 6 | Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 166,735 | 197,662 |
| 7 | Education, Training, and Library Occupations | 169,094 | 193,796 |
| 8 | Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 141,746 | 154,918 |
| 9 | Construction and Extraction Occupations | 136,326 | 149,250 |
| 10 | Computer and Mathematical Occupations | 108,960 | 134,223 |
Source: Labor Market Statistics, Occupational Employment Projections Unit
http://www.dllr.state.md.us/
Education: Howard County
The level of educational achievement in Howard County is very high and has increased significantly since 1990. While the Washington-Baltimore area offers a broad choice of job opportunities for this highly educated workforce, an increasing number of new companies also have opened their doors in Howard County, attracted by this growing workforce.
Howard County is home to leading college and university campuses, including Johns Hopkins University, Loyola College, University of Maryland University College, Howard Community College and the University of Phoenix. With a broad choice of college and graduate-level educational opportunities, Howard County residents can find the ideal program to meet their specific needs and goals.
Percentage of residents 25+ |
High School Diploma or Higher |
Bachelor Degree |
Professional Degree |
| United States | 84.2% | 27.2% | 9.06% |
| Maryland | 87.0% | 34.5% | 15.2% |
| Howard County | 95.0% | 57.8% | 27.6% |
Source: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/
Wage Data
Here is a breakdown of the average weekly salaries per worker for the ten largest industry sectors in Howard County, based on number of employees, for the fourth quarter 2011.
FOURTH QUARTER 2014
| Industry | Average Weekly Wage Per Worker |
TOTAL EMPLOYMENT |
$1,244 |
GOVERNMENT SECTOR — TOTAL |
1,047 |
| Federal Government | 1,507 |
| State Government | 1,120 |
| Local Government | 1,019 |
PRIVATE SECTOR TOTAL — ALL INDUSTRIES |
1,268 |
GOODS-PRODUCING |
1,348 |
| Natural Resources and Mining | 770 |
| Construction | 1,335 |
| Manufacturing | 1,388 |
SERVICE PROVIDING |
1,256 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 1,094 |
| Information | 1,650 |
| Financial Activities | 1,519 |
| Professional and Business Services | 1,785 |
| Education and Health Services | 917 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 398 |
| Other Services | 746 |
For the most recent reports please visit the DLLR website.
County Data
Howard County boasts a thriving and vibrant economy, which makes it the first choice for smart businesses looking to start or expand in the Mid-Atlantic. Add in its central location between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and you have a real win-win. Howard County also offers more than 70-million square feet of commercial space, providing businesses with the perfect location to do business.
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Our Community
Howard County is continually ranked among the most affluent, advanced and educated communities in the United States. There is immediate access to leading educational and health care institutions, upscale retail, and outstanding recreation and entertainment.
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