STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ON PRELIMINARY NOVEMBER JOBS REPORT

ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 21, 2012) – 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:

"While November's preliminary jobs report is disappointing, on the year, there are several positive indicators that point in one direction: forward. Over the last 12 months, Maryland's businesses have created 22,200 jobs and because we've driven our unemployment rate down to 6.6 percent, over 25,400 more Marylanders are working today than at this time last year. With that said, better is not good enough; the most important job we create is the next job.

“This year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranked Maryland #1 for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and in the top five states for economic performance for the third year in a row. The States Project said we're #2 for economic opportunity. And, most recently, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation ranked us among the five states best positioned to succeed in the New Economy. Together, we can continue to grow jobs, opportunity and prosperity in the year ahead.”