|
BALTIMORE, MD (10/21/09) – Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Secretary Alexander M. Sanchez announced Maryland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment
rate rose slightly to a preliminary rate of 7.2 percent in September, from a revised
7.1 percent in August. Unemployment in Maryland has not changed substantially since
May, and remains well below the national rate, which increased one-tenth of one
percent in September to 9.8 percent.
“While we continue to see promising signs of stabilization in the job market,
and even improvement in some areas, we still have a lot of work ahead in helping
unemployed Marylanders get back to work,” Secretary Sanchez said.
While Maryland employers cut about 3,600 jobs from their business payrolls
during September, that is significantly less than the average monthly loss of
4,700 jobs this year through August, adding to signs that the job market is
beginning to stabilize. Most notably, there were 1,400 jobs added in the construction
sector during September – the first gain in construction employment after 18
consecutive months of declines.
September’s job declines were concentrated primarily in accommodations,
professional/ business/scientific services, retail trade and state government.
Maryland’s business payrolls have lost approximately 78,000 jobs and nearly
107,000 people have been added to the state’s unemployment rolls since the
recession officially began in December. Maryland’s unemployment rate was 4.6
percent in September 2008.
Employment Situation
|
