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Jobs ‘recover,’ but still far to go
Though Maryland’s jobs count has made a full recovery — returning to its pre-recession level — a still-high unemployment rate, a growing workforce, uncertainty in the federal government and ongoing transformation within the state economy indicate room for progress remains.
Red Line forum will try to attract private investment
Federal, state and local government officials will try to solicit interest from the private sector to help build Baltimore's Red Line on Monday at a forum intended to explain the project and the state's new public-private partnership procurement law.
Brown meets with federal transit officials
ANNAPOLIS — Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown met Monday with federal transportation officials to reaffirm Maryland’s commitment to pursing two light rail projects that would cost about $1.5 billion each after lawmakers approved legislation this session to raise the state’s gas tax to boost transportation revenues and enhance opportunities for public-private partnerships in the state. A [&helli[...]
Private survey shows U.S. hiring slowed last month
WASHINGTON — A private survey shows U.S. businesses sharply reduced hiring in April, a cautionary sign two days before the government reports on monthly job growth. Payroll provider ADP said Wednesday that businesses added just 119,000 jobs last month, far lower than a revised total of 201,000 jobs in March. The number of jobs added […]
Measuring the large impact of small businesses
In trying to increase opportunities for small business development, it might be helpful to understand the impact small businesses have on our economy. While we constantly hear about the Dow and Standard and Poor’s analysis of major publicly traded companies, there is no real index of how small businesses are performing. However, our economy is […]
Maryland unemployment rate rises despite job growth
With seven straight months of positive job growth, Maryland has become a destination for residents of other states with more devastating unemployment rates, the local director for a temporary employment agency says. That would help explain why the state’s unemployment rate rose to 6.6 percent in March, even though the economy added 1,500 jobs. The […]
Maryland unemployment rate stays at 6.5 percent
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland’s unemployment rate remains at 6.5 percent, despite a sixth straight month of job growth. The state added 8,000 jobs in February, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor. The department also revised job gains for January, now saying the state added 9,100 jobs. Almost 11,000 jobs were added […]
Many federal workers out-earn private sector labor
WASHINGTON — The average federal worker earns about 2 percent more than a private sector worker in a comparable profession, though the government’s generous pension system means that overall compensation is significantly higher, a government study released Monday said. Once pension and health benefits are factored in, the average federal worker reaps 16 percent more […]
Government hiring lifted state job picture in December
ANNAPOLIS — Government hiring drove Maryland’s unemployment rate down to 6.7 percent last month as payrolls grew by 3,100 jobs, according to figures released Tuesday by the state. December marked the third straight month in which the jobless rate declined after the recent peak of 7.4 percent in September. Unemployment was 6.9 percent in November, […]
Maryland unemployment rate fell in October
Maryland’s unemployment rate fell to 7.2 percent in October, the first drop in six months as the state’s employers added 3,100 net new jobs to their payrolls, according to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Private sector employment increased by 1,900 positions and state and local governments brought on new workers as well, according […]
Unused sick time a big cost to governments
Denny Johnston received more than a pension and a handshake when he retired from the Washington state corrections system in 2009. Because he used only a quarter of his sick days over a three-decade-long career, he was able to convert $15,000 of unused sick time into a tax-free account to pay health care expenses. While […]
U.S. economy added 103,000 jobs in September
WASHINGTON — The United States added 103,000 jobs in September, an improvement over this summer and just enough to calm fears of a new recession that have hung over Wall Street and the nation for weeks. The Labor Department also said Friday that the nation added more jobs than first estimated in July and August. […]
