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Unemployment rate rises slightly, still
1.8 percentage points better than national average
Maryland Labor Secretary urges quick passage of American
Jobs Act
President Obama's proposed legislation would create or save
18,200 Maryland jobs
BALTIMORE, MD (September 16, 2011) - The U.S.
Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics
released state payroll job and employment data earlier
today. According to the preliminary data, Maryland shed
2,500 jobs in August. Maryland unemployment rate, 1.8
percentage points better than the national average, rose
modestly to 7.3 percent - still among the lowest rates
in the country.
Despite job losses across most supersectors, the state
did add 1,200 jobs in the Natural
Resources/Mining/Construction industry, 600 in Manufacturing
and 500 in Educational/Health Care/Social Assistance. The
state added 6,900 government positions in August, including
6,600 in local government. Since January, Maryland has added
14,700 jobs. The largest job declines were seen in the
Information sector (-4,400). The since-resolved Verizon
labor dispute disproportionately contributed to job losses
in that sector.
"August was a softer month along Maryland's road to
recovery. While our unemployment rate remains 1.8 percentage
points better than the national average, we still shed 2,500
jobs in August and saw our unemployment rate tick up
modestly," Maryland Labor Secretary Alexander M.
Sanchez said. "Governor O'Malley is leading efforts in
Maryland to position our state more competitively for the
New Economy. Because of his leadership and the tough choices
he's made, we survived the national recession better than
others. Still, the hundreds of thousands of Marylanders and
the millions of Americans looking for work need help now.
More than ever, it's vital that our Congressional leaders
come together right away and pass President Obama's jobs
bill."
The August jobs report was released a little more than a
week after President Barack Obama's speech before a joint
session of Congress outlining the American Jobs Act. The
President's proposal, which includes an initiative based on
the successful HIRE Tax Credit to small businesses that hire
unemployed workers for new positions, will create or save
18,200 jobs in Maryland. Since the program launched in March
2010, more than 900 employers have hired nearly 2,000
unemployed workers through the Maryland HIRE Tax Credit.
The American Jobs Act would provide nearly $542 million
to support 6,000 educational and first responder jobs in
Maryland, more than $625 million for infrastructure
improvements that would support 8,100 local jobs and nearly
$316 million for school construction that would support up
to 4,100 jobs. The President's plan also proposes reforms to
the nation's unemployment insurance system, including an
extension of unemployment insurance benefits that would
prevent 17,600 Marylanders from losing their benefits after
just six weeks.
he Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
protects and empowers Marylanders by safeguarding
workers, protecting consumers, providing a safety net
and cultivating a thriving workforce that can meet the
demands of Maryland’s dynamic economy. Follow DLLR on Twitter
(@MD_DLLR) and Facebook.
Employment Situation
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