STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ON NOVEMBER JOBS REPORT

ANNAPOLIS, MD Governor Martin O’Malley today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Labor’s release of preliminary employment data for the month of November. The report shows that Maryland’s unemployment rate improved 0.3 percentage points in November to 6.9 percent - 1.7 percentage points below the national average. Maryland employers added 2,000 jobs in November, the third straight month of job growth. Since January, Maryland has added nearly 27,000 jobs, the largest January-November job growth since 2005.

“This month, our State added 2,000 jobs, helping drive down our unemployment rate to 6.9 percent – dropping below 7.0 percent for the first time since May 2011. Since the start of this year, we’ve added 27,000 jobs, meaning more Marylanders are working and supporting their families.

“The private sector continues to drive our job growth, adding 4,300 jobs to Maryland’s economy this month. However, in order for businesses to create more jobs, government must do its job. We know that a modern economy requires modern investments and the most important job we have is to create the next one. We must remain focused on making the investments in our infrastructure, school construction, and other shovel-ready projects that are necessary to create and save jobs for our families.”