Employment in Baltimore City and four surrounding counties decreased or remained mostly flat from June 2007 to June 2008, according to Labor Department data released Tuesday. Employment in Baltimore declined 2 percent over the year, while Anne Arundel employment remained flat, Baltimore County dropped 0.5 percent, Harford fell 2 percent, and Howard grew 0.1 percent. Employment nationally declined 0.3 percent in that period, according to the data.

— Aaron Cahall