Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation issued the following announcement on Aug. 17.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today released state jobs and unemployment data. According to the preliminary survey data, Maryland added 5,300 total jobs in July, with gains across several sectors as well as in state government, which added 5,200 jobs over-the-month.
“Maryland’s job growth exemplifies our employers’ faith in the state’s economy,” said Labor Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “Finding qualified workers to fill these positions can be challenging. With even more jobs projected to come to the state through such programs as More Jobs for Marylanders, the Department of Labor is working continuously to help our employers build talent through innovative programs like apprenticeship and EARN Maryland. These industry-led programs meet specific workforce needs, ensuring a continual pipeline of qualified, ready workers.”
Compared with this time last year, Maryland jobs are up by 16,500, an over-the-year change of 0.6 percent. Private sector jobs are up by 19,200 over-the-year, a change of 0.9 percent. Since January 2015, total employment in Maryland has increased by 101,500 jobs.
Further, the state’s preliminary jobs estimate for June was revised upward by BLS by 6,700 jobs, from a loss of 5,500 to a gain of 1,200 jobs in the previous month.
According to the data released today, the Education and Health Services sector posted the highest gains in July with an increase of 2,900 jobs, all within the Health Care and Social Assistance subsector. Professional and Business Services increased by 2,100 jobs across the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (1,400 jobs), Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (400 jobs), and Management of Companies and Enterprises (300 jobs) subsectors. Manufacturing grew by 600 jobs, while Trade, Transportation, and Utilities and Other Services each increased by 300 jobs.
Though several sectors experienced decline over the month, including the Leisure and Hospitality sector with a decrease of 1,400 jobs, and Mining, Logging, and Construction with 1,300 jobs, Maryland’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 percent.
Original source can be found here.