Md. unemployment dips to 7.1% in June

Posted: 11:01 am Tue, July 20, 2010
By Nicholas Sohr

Maryland’s unemployment rate dipped in June to 7.1 percent – the lowest it has been in a year – as more than 9,000 jobless workers left the labor market.

The state also added 1,600 jobs in the month, marking the fourth straight month of job growth.

Growth in leisure and hospitality (5,800 new jobs), profession and business services (2,800) and construction (1,300) offset the loss of 7,000 jobs in education and health services.

“We are seeing consistent improvement in some sectors that were particularly affected by the downturn, such as leisure and hospitality industries and construction, and Maryland was not as impacted as some other states were by the end of temporary positions with the U.S. Census Bureau,” said Alexander M. Sanchez, secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Payrolls in the state have swelled by 40,200 since January.

“In these tough economic times, we have made the tough choices necessary to create and save jobs, improve conditions for Maryland businesses, and fuel economic progress,” Gov. Martin O’Malley said.

One of the governor’s signature job creation efforts this spring, a $5,000 tax credit for businesses that hire unemployed workers, has had little impact on the state’s job growth.

As of Tuesday morning, 105 companies had claimed credits to hire 189 workers. The program expires at the end of the year.