Continuing on the Recovery Summer and Stimulus: State by State, we head to Maryland.
Quick Maryland facts:
- In January of 2009, the unemployment rate in Maryland was 6.1%. As of June 30, 2010, the unemployment rate was 7.1%–a net increase of 1%! (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- According to Recovery.gov, Maryland has received 4,188 awards. This has resulted in $4,578,522,103 being spent to create/save 8,739.12* jobs (Source: Recovery.gov)
- As of June 2010, the labor force in Maryland has decreased by 56,393 people since January of 2009. While the labor force has decreased, unemployment has increased . (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- According to the Recovery Summer Map, Maryland boasts only 1 “Summer of Recovery” project!
- The number of people employed in Maryland has fallen by 81,361 people! (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- The Obama administration projected the change in jobs by December 31, 2010 to be +66,000 jobs. To date, Maryland has lost 14,100 jobs. (Source: Ways & Means Republicans)
The employment trend in Maryland has not been good. When Obama took office in 2009 and through the beginning of 2010, the employment situation in Maryland went from bad to worse. After a slight “recovery” period starting in March of 2010, the employment situation continues to slide downward. As the below chart shows, there was no “Summer of Recovery” in Maryland. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Has the Recovery Act done anything for Maryland? No.
Has “Recovery Summer” done anything for Maryland? No.
Since Maryland is so close to Washington D.C., the effects of the “Great Recession” have not been as strong as we have seen in states that are farther away. This is most likely due to the fact that many folks in Maryland work for the Federal Government–which has boomed under the Obama administration. But the “Great Recession” has still had its effects on the state. Unemployment has increased and the labor force is shrinking in a state that supported Obama in his 2008 election.
Read more on Recovery Summer and the Stimulus Effects on States.
*: The number of jobs created/saved conflicts with other government sources on Recovery.gov. This number was pulled from the latest figured offered on Recovery.gov
