For Anne Arundel County families, this week’s most useful jobs story may not be about the whole labor market. It may be about where summer opportunity is showing up right now.
Maryland added 5,100 jobs in May, with Leisure and Hospitality leading the way and Health Care and Social Assistance close behind, according to the Maryland Department of Labor. That matters here because both sectors already have a meaningful footprint in Anne Arundel County, but hospitality feels especially timely as summer tourism, events, restaurants, and waterfront activity pick up.
Anne Arundel’s most recent county snapshot already showed year-over-year gains in Leisure and Hospitality (+256) and Education and Health Services (+1,014). That means the state trend lines up with sectors that were already moving in a positive direction locally.
And hospitality is not a small side story here. Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County says tourism supports 27,258 hospitality jobs, or about 10% of all county jobs, and generates $1.9 billion in labor income locally. As Kristen Pironis, CEO of Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, said, “Every visit to Anne Arundel County does more than create a memory – it fuels jobs, supports local businesses, and strengthens our communities.”
There is also a practical workforce angle for readers. Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County says its foundation is strengthening the local hospitality workforce through education, training, and career pathways, including the recently launched Backstage Pass: Careers in Tourism program for youth and young adults. That matters because hospitality work may be seasonal for some, but it can also build experience that leads into management, marketing, culinary work, events, lodging, and tourism leadership.
At the same time, this is not a one-note story. Anne Arundel County’s weekly unemployment claims also rose in June, from 148 for the week ending June 6 to 268 for the week ending June 20. That suggests some households may still be feeling pressure even as hospitality and health care create openings.
Our takeaway: healthcare remains steady, but hospitality may be the fresher local story this week. For Anne Arundel County, stronger summer hiring could mean more chances to earn, build experience, and get a foot in the door close to home.
For readers who want to explore openings now, check Annapolis Moms Media Job Connect, along with Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County’s opportunities pages and Anne Arundel County Government’s job board.
Citations
Maryland Department of Labor. (2026, June 23). Maryland employment rose by 5,100 jobs in May. https://labor.maryland.gov/whatsnews/mlrmay2026.shtml
Southern Maryland Chronicle. (2026, June 25). Hospitality and health care lead Maryland’s May employment gains. https://southernmarylandchronicle.com/2026/06/25/hospitality-and-health-care-lead-marylands-may-employment-gains/
Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. (2026, January). Anne Arundel County at a glance. https://www.aaedc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/AA-Co-At-A-Glance-January-2026.pdf
The BayNet. (2026, May 5). Visit Annapolis marks Tourism Week with new initiatives. https://thebaynet.com/visit-annapolis-marks-tourism-week-with-new-initiatives/
Maryland Department of Labor. (2026). Initial unemployment insurance claims by county. https://labor.maryland.gov/unemployment-insurance/data/initial-claims-by-county.shtml
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. (n.d.). Opportunities. https://www.visitannapolis.org/vaaac/how-we-do-it/opportunities/
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. (n.d.). Careers & internships. https://www.visitannapolis.org/vaaac/how-we-do-it/opportunities/careers-internships/
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