Frederick, MD. November 24, 2010
Governor Martin O’Malley announced yesterday that Maryland had created an additional 5, 900 jobs in the month of October 2010. According to the governor’s office October 2010 showed the largest job growth in Maryland since 2000. The number also is reported to be more than twice the rate of growth as other states. Mr. O’Malley says that the job growth is a “positive sign for families and businesses in our State.” He further claims that since January the state has seen an increase of 40,600 jobs in 2010.
This marks the fifth straight month that 2010 job totals have risen above year-ago figures, and the first time since 2006 that payrolls have increased from September to October.
“We are pleased that job growth has continued to increase in this challenging economic climate,” said Secretary Sanchez of Maryland’s Department of Labor. “We are committed to working with employers to create new opportunities for all Marylanders, and hope that Maryland’s success will soon be reflected on a national level.”
September’s unemployment rate was revised downward from 7.5% to 7.4%, and October’s preliminary estimates have held steady at 7.4%; however, there was an increase of 10,466 in the number of employed Marylanders. This marks the first September-October employment increase since 2007. On a national level, the rate remains at 9.6%, while employment declined and unemployment increased.
The private sector was responsible for the majority of October’s growth, with the retail trade sector adding the most jobs (+4,100). This is the first time that the retail industry has posted a September-October increase since 2006. The administrative and support services sector reported an increase of 2,000 jobs, partly due to the growth of temp agencies. Notable gains were also observed in the health care and social assistance sector (+2,200) and the educational services sector (+2,100, possibly owing to increased hiring by colleges and universities receiving grants).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that Maryland’s unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in October 2010, which is up from 7.2 percent in October of 2009. The BLS also reports that Maryland has seen in increase of 28,400 jobs over October 2009.
The largest over-the-month in employment occurred in Texas (+47,900), New York (+40,600), California (+38,900), Michigan (+19,000), and Arkansas (+17,400). The largest over-the-month percentage increases in employment were in Arkansas (+1.5 percent), New Mexico (+0.8 percent), and Maine and North Dakota (+0.7 percent each). Meanwhile,The largest over-the-month employment decreases were in Delaware (-3,000), Missouri (-2,900), and Nevada and Virginia (-2,200 each). The largest over-the-month percentage decreases in employment occurred in Delaware (-0.7 percent), Nevada (-0.2 percent), and Missouri and Virginia (-0.1 percent each). Virginia’s unemployment rate is 6.8% for October 2010.
Nevada continued to register the highest unemployment rate among the states, 14.2 percent in October. The states with the next highest rates were Michigan, 12.8 percent, and California, 12.4 percent. North Dakota reported the lowest jobless rate, 3.8 percent, followed by South Dakota and Nebraska, at 4.5 and 4.7 percent, respectively.
Over the year, 12 states and the District of Columbia reported statistically significant employment increases,
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