Employment

According to Comptroller Brooke Lierman's Inaugural State of the Economy Report from January 2024, the federal government is a top employer in Maryland. It is among the top ten industries in Maryland by share of total employment and is a sector that added jobs in Maryland during the pandemic, providing relative job security and wage stability. Maryland is home to more than 60 federal agencies and 14 military installations. The federal government also supports an ecosystem of private sector suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors in Maryland. Federal procurement provided a $42 billion investment in Maryland businesses in 2022, which represented 10% of the state’s GDP.

Southern Maryland's workforce is highly skilled and technically oriented. Major employers include federal, state and local governments, private Department of Defense related contractors as well as non-defense companies. The largest employment concentration in the county is in and around the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and the neighboring Lexington Park area.

To search and apply for local federal jobs, visit USAJOBS.gov.

Another excellent local resource is the Southern Maryland JobSource, a partnership with local workforce development agencies, that provides a full range of assistance to job seekers and businesses. 

Connect with Fleet & Family's Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) Coordinator at 301-342-4911 to assist with all things job related. 

Be sure to bring all employment records and information, resumes, transcripts, SF 171s, SF 50s, certificates and licenses when meeting with Fleet & Family's Family Employment Readiness Program Coordinator. Visit USAJOBS.gov to see what documents you may need to provide. 

TAP has Five Key components:

• Assignment to at least one of three pathways: Tier I, Tier II or Tier III
  • Note: The Tier assignment mandates the required Career Readiness Standards (CRS) a service member will be required to complete

• Attendance at: DoD Transition Day, which includes Pre-Sep Counseling, My Transition, Military Occupation Code Crosswalk, and Financial Planning
• Veterans Administration benefits and service brief
• Department of Labor (DoL) one-day Employment Workshop

• Department of Labor Employment Workshop (DOLEW)
• My Education
• Vocational Training Track (formerly Career Exploration and Planning Track)
• Boots to Business

• Must be completed no later than 90 days prior to separation to verify you have met ALL Career Readiness Standards (CRS)
• Self-Assessment / Individual Transition Plan
• Post-transition Financial Plan
• eBenefits registration
• Continuum of Military Service brief (AC only)
• Gap analysis or verification of employment
• Completed resume or provide verification of employment (based on track selected)
• Comparison of Technical Institutions (based on track selected)
• Comparison of Colleges / Universities (based on track selected)

For information on MyCAA and Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, visit Military OneSource.

Visit the Maryland Department of Labor to learn more about filing an unemployment insurance benefits claim in Maryland.