Under GOP Governor Larry Hogan, Maryland’s Unemployment Rate Drops To A Near Decade Low

September 15, 2017

In Maryland, GOP Governor Larry Hogan’s steady focus on job creation is paying off with news that the state’s unemployment rate has dropped to a near decade low. Maryland gained over 14,000 jobs in the month of August, outpacing national employment growth, while the state’s overall unemployment rate dropped below four percent for the first time since 2008. Since Governor Hogan took office, Maryland has created over 127,000 jobs, becoming a model for the rest of the nation. As Governor Hogan continues his work to find new and innovative ways to expand opportunity in the state, Maryland’s future looks brighter than ever.

WBAL reports:

“Maryland labor officials say Maryland outpaced nationwide employment growth by a factor of five in August.

According to preliminary data, the state tacked on 14,200 jobs in August. The state unemployment rate dropped to 3.9 percent, below the 4.4 percent national average. While the national rate barely budged from July, the last time Maryland’s unemployment was this low was in May 2008, before the recession.

‘From day one, a top priority of our administration has been growing our private sector and creating more jobs and we have made incredible progress,’ Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement. ‘In just two and a half years, Maryland has added more than 10 times more private sector jobs than were added in the previous 8 years, and the unemployment rate is at the lowest it has been in nearly a decade.’

Maryland has added 127,600 since the start of Hogan’s first term, officials say. Of the 14,200 jobs added last month, 9,700 were in the private sector. Compared to the previous August, private sector jobs were up by 57,900, or 2.6 percent…

‘August’s job gains are the second-highest in the past seven years,’ said Maryland Labor Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. ‘Our regulatory reform and workforce development programs are creating opportunities for both business owners and job seekers, and the numbers reflect that. The Department of Labor is proud to do its part to ensure our citizens have jobs.’

More than one-third of the new jobs were in the professional and business services sector. The state’s preliminary jobs estimate for July was also revised up from 800 to 3,400 jobs added.”