Employment

Anne Arundel County's 14,695 businesses employ 254,774 workers. An estimated 360 of these businesses have 100 or more employees. Key private sector employers include: Northrop Grumman, Anne Arundel Health Systems and Univ of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Southwest Airlines, Anne Arundel County Public Schools and Booz Allen Hamilton. Key government employers include the Defense Information Systems Agency, National Security Agency, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Cyber Command, alongside a robust defense contracting ecosystem.

Spouse Works and Career Mobility Pipelines: Fort Meade fully integrates and supports the Department of War SpouseWorks program (formerly SECO). Local coordinators assist military spouses in leveraging central Spouse Works assets, navigating funding application pipelines for the Spouse Works Scholarship (formerly MyCAA) for credentialing or degrees, exploring professional pathways via the Spouse Works Fellowship and connecting with the Spouse Works Partner/MSEP network.

Active Employer Engagement and Recruitment Programs: To bridge the gap between job seekers and hiring managers, the Employment Readiness Program promotes continuous, active recruitment events throughout the year:

• Employer Days: Routine, targeted installation recruitment events featuring direct hiring managers from federal agencies and defense contractors hosted through by the Transition Assistance Program.
• Quarterly Job Fairs: Large-scale, comprehensive hiring events hosted each quarter bringing dozens of local, national and federal employers directly to the Fort Meade community.
• Bi-Weekly Job Blast: A curated, electronic publication distributed every two weeks featuring immediate local job openings, upcoming networking events, education opportunities, direct hiring announcements and more.

To obtain information for an upcoming Employer Day, obtain the latest Job Fair flyer or subscribe to the Bi-Weekly Job Blast, contact the ACS Employment Readiness team at 301-677-5590 or visit us at 830 Chisholm Avenue.

Employment Documentation: To prevent delays in your federal or private-sector job search, do not pack critical employment records in your household goods shipment. Hand-carry the following documentation to your appointment:

• Resumes: Current master federal resume and tailored private-sector versions.
• Position descriptions: Copies of recent PDs to verify specialized experience blocks.
• Performance evaluations: Your last three annual performance appraisals (e.g., civilian appraisals, NCOERs/OERs) to verify successful performance levels.
• Official transcripts: Sealed or official digital copies of all college transcripts to meet positive education requirements for specific federal occupational series.
• Standard Form 50 (SF-50): The most recent non-award SF-50 showing your tenure, position and grade, as well as the SF-50 placing you in Leave Without Pay, or LWOP, status if applicable.
• Spouse’s PCS orders: A complete copy of your spouse's permanent change of station orders including all amendments, to verify Military Spouse Preference eligibility.
• Overseas Employment Verification: DA Form 5433-R or equivalent service component documentation verifying overseas service, if applying under Executive Order 12721.
• DD Form 214 (Member 4 Copy): If applicable, to document active-duty service periods and verify Veterans' Preference eligibility.
• Civilian Leave and Earnings Statement: Recent copies to verify salary history and aid in potential pay-setting determinations.

The Fort Meade Employment Readiness Program provides comprehensive career and workforce development assets aligned with AR 608-1. To maximize community accessibility, the program features scheduled career planning sessions — specifically prioritizing federal career path navigation — and immediate job-seeker support.

The Fort Meade Transition Assistance Program is available to all eligible transitioning soldiers, veterans and family members. The program provides education, training, and counseling necessary to be career-ready for civilian life. The program helps soldiers make informed decisions through career and employment assistance and benefits counseling. TAP can be reached at 301-677-9877.

Tuition Assistance & Continuing Education

For Active-Duty Service Members: Active-duty service members seeking information on Department of Defense Tuition Assistance, academic counseling, civilian credentialing pipelines, Veteran Assistance (1-88-442-4551), or GI Bill frameworks must coordinate directly with the installation Education Center located at Kuhn Hall.

• Location: Kuhn Hall Education and Resiliency Center, 4415 Llewellyn Avenue, Fort Meade, MD 20755
• Phone: 301-677-6421
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

For Military Spouses

Financial assistance and career mapping for military spouses are managed under the Department of Defense Spouse Works program (formerly SECO). Eligible spouses can access funding for local or virtual degree programs, professional certifications, and licensure via the Spouse Works Scholarship (formerly MyCAA).

To explore dynamic education benefits, verify scholarship criteria, or interface with central career coaches, visit the official Spouse Works portal via Military OneSource or connect with a local coordinator at Army Community Service (830 Chisholm Avenue / 301-677-5590).

Unemployment insurance is a program paid for by employers and your tax dollars when you're working. If you lose your job and it's not your fault, you could qualify for these short-term benefits. These benefits can support you while you're looking for another job. You should file for Unemployment Benefits right away! There is no reason to feel guilty or embarrassed about filing for unemployment benefits. These are benefits that your taxes helped to pay for when you were working.

Qualifying for Unemployment Benefits

If you are a military spouse and are relocating due to your Service Members PCS, you may qualify for unemployment. Find out more information.

Applying for Benefits --You apply for unemployment benefits at your local state unemployment agency. Your weekly benefit check depends on what state you live in and how much money you made while you were working.

Anne Arundel County has a broad employment base, though many residents commute to work in Baltimore and Washington. There are several large federal institutions, including the National Security Agency, the Naval Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard. Unemployment rate 3.6%. Median household income $ 89,031.

Helpful Links

• Army Community Service Employment Readiness Program
• Maryland Workforce Exchange (jobs website)