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15,000 more Marylanders employed since start of 2011
BALTIMORE, MD (April 19, 2011) - Maryland's unemployment rate improved in March 2011
for the third consecutive month to 6.9 percent - dropping below 7 percent for the first
time in two years. The unemployment rate has improved 0.5 percentage points since the
end of 2010.
“Maryland’s economy continues to grow as our state pulls out of this national recession.
Thousands of Marylanders have entered the workforce since the start of the year and we
recorded the largest monthly employment gain last month since the final month of President
Clinton’s term,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “While we’re pleased to announce that the
state’s unemployment rate dropped below 7 percent for the first time in two years, we must
continue our efforts to build a talented workforce pipeline that will help us win the future
and compete in the new economy.”
"While we still have a great deal of work ahead, the March employment report clearly shows
that Maryland is moving consistently down the path toward recovery," Maryland Labor Secretary
Alexander M. Sanchez said. "The state's unemployment rate has improved every month since the
beginning of the year, and nearly 15,000 additional Marylanders are working today who were
not when the year began."
Including March 2011, Maryland's unemployment rate has improved or held steady 14 months
in a row. The rate is currently 0.7 percentage points lower than it was a year ago. According
to data made available today by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics,
nearly 16,800 additional Marylanders are working today compared to data from March 2010, and
nearly 19,000 fewer Marylanders are unemployed. Since the beginning of 2011, nearly 15,000
additional Marylanders have started working and 8,100 fewer are unemployed.
While more Marylanders are working today than a year ago, Maryland lost 5,900 payroll jobs
in March 2011, compared to February 2011. The largest declines were realized in local
government, retail, administrative and support services, construction and transportation.
Higher gas prices and unseasonable weather likely played a determining role in
over-the-month declines.
Despite moderate monthly jobs losses, March 2011 offered several signs that the
State is well-positioned for future job growth. The state added 1,300 jobs in
accommodations and food services, 900 in professional, scientific and technological
services, 800 in the information sector, 500 in wholesale trade and 300 in manufacturing.
March 2011 was also the 9th consecutive month of year-over-year job growth.
Private sector announcements also provide optimistic signals for job growth in the
months ahead. The sale of Sparrows Point early in the month is already prompting the
rehiring of employees displaced last year. Walmart recently opened a new superstore in
Fallston and Price Rite Supermarket opened in the Woodlawn area, creating more than 120
new jobs. Wegmans recently announced that it will begin hiring as many as 600 employees
before opening a new store in Harford County and Kohls will open a distribution center
in Harford County that will create 200 new jobs.
DLLR is the state's leading agency for workforce development and skills training.
Yesterday, DLLR relaunched the Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE) as a more dynamic,
virtual One Stop Employment Center. The newly-revamped MWE portal connects agencies,
programs and services electronically to assist and connect employers and jobseekers.
The system provides integrated services via the Internet for individuals, employers,
training providers, workforce staff and one-stop partners and dramatically improves
customer satisfaction, staff efficiency and overall performance.
Employment Situation
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