Maryland’s unemployment rate remained steady at 7.4 percent in October, driven by an increase in retail jobs, according to a report released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Maryland added roughly 5,900 new jobs in October, a slight uptick from the 4,800 added in September. But the job growth was leveled out by an increase in Maryland’s work force — or the number of people eligible for employment in the state.