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During April, the number of employed rose by just over 9,300 persons – an
increase which helped to absorb an influx of jobseekers and to lower
the number of unemployed by nearly 1,700 persons to a level of
201,222. Unemployment, while declining, remains considerably above its April 2008
pre-recession level when just 4.0 percent of Maryland’s labor
force, or 118,430 persons, were without a job.
Maryland’s business payrolls continued to shed jobs in April, however, the rate
of decline appears to be moderating. Seasonally adjusted industry
payrolls declined at a rate of 0.6 and 0.5 percent, respectively
during February and March, with actual losses averaging about 13,500
jobs per month. During April, the rate of decline slowed to 0.2
percent. In absolute terms, this translated into a decline of 5,900
jobs. Job reductions among private sector employers fueled the
downward movement in April’s industry payrolls. Construction was
dealt the hardest blow, with declines among building contractors
accounting for the largest portion of the industry’s monthly loss.
The demand for services provided by administrative support firms
remained soft, causing employers in this sector to continue to trim
their payrolls. The health care industry took a surprising turn in
April. Up to this point, the industry has been relatively recession
proof; however, stories have begun to emerge that strapped consumers
are cutting corners in terms of health care. Employers in the
industry responded by downsizing in April. About 800 jobs fewer jobs
were reported, with reductions at physicians’ offices and in
hospitals contributing to the slide.
On a positive note, hiring for the upcoming decennial census and in
stimulus-related jobs helped to bolster employment on both the
federal and local government levels.
Non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates declined in each of Maryland’s local
jurisdictions during April. Some of the largest declines, of a full
percentage point or better, occurred in Allegany, Caroline, Garrett,
Talbot and Worcester counties. Unemployment rates in Montgomery and
Howard counties, at 4.7 and 4.8 percent, respectively were the
lowest among the jurisdictions while Worcester’s rate, despite a
hefty decline, remained the highest at 11.7 percent. While, in most
jurisdictions, rising employment helped to lower unemployment, a
number of jurisdictions reported a decline in the number of
jobseekers participating in the labor market.
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