LINTHICUM, Md. (WJZ)—Looking for work. Even as the unemployment rate continues to drop, thousands of Marylanders are still struggling to find jobs.

Andrea Fujii explains.

Some may call it schmoozing. Others call it survival.

“It’s very challenging just due to you have to know someone that’s already inside the business,” said William Boulware, unemployed mechanical engineer.

Boulware is one of many at the National Careers Fair. A recent mechanical engineering graduate, he’s spent the last six months looking for work.

“It’s actually really tough to get the job inside your field that you studied in,” Boulware said. “It’s really tough.”

But the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the job market is the best it’s been in two years.

Maryland’s unemployment rate is now at 6.5 percent. That’s almost two percent lower than the national average.

And almost all of the growth was in the private sector adding about 5,000 jobs in January.

This employer says there are fewer candidates to pick from lately.

“Each time we’ve been here I’ve seen a little less each time. Actually today’s been the least busy,” said Kevin Ignasiak, employer.

But those still out of work aren’t as positive.

“I don’t have my bachelor’s degree– just my associate’s, so that makes me really nervous. There’s a lot of competition out there,” said Melissa Manicone, unemployed masseuse.

In the meantime, Boulware’s working a side job. But still hoping he’ll find his dream job.

“Keep on filling online applications out and hopefully something will break through,” Boulware said.

According to the most recent data, January was the fifth straight month of job growth in Maryland.

Salisbury has the highest unemployment rate in the state at 10.4 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.