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Sunday, June 30, 2013

Wicomico County Labor Force Continues to Deteriorate - April Job Numbers Just-in

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics just released the April Jobs numbers for our nations counties.  According to the latest release - Wicomico County continues to experience job loses as a result of a shrinking labor force.  For the latest monthly report - Wicomico lost another 987 jobs when comparing April 2013 - to April 2012.  The previous months labor report  - March 2013 - was slightly adjusted but still remains significantly smaller than what the county's labor force was in March 2012.  This makes 9 consecutive months whereby Wicomico county has lost ground in the employment arena or 11 of the past 15 months.  The economic implications for continued erosion of the local employment base will impact federal/state/local income tax revenues, and, create undue hardship for each graduating high school and college class.



Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemploy. Change over prior 
County Period Labor Force Employed Unemployed Rate % year 2011 
Wicomico 11-Feb 52506 47333 5173 9.9
Wicomico 11-Mar 53116 48391 4725 8.9
Wicomico 11-Apr 52961 48485 4476 8.5
Wicomico 11-May 53444 48877 4567 8.5
Wicomico 11-Jun 53825 48951 4874 9.1
Wicomico 11-Jul 54139 49273 4866 9
Wicomico 11-Aug 53423 48706 4717 8.8
Wicomico 11-Sep 53821 49172 4649 8.6
Wicomico 11-Oct 53384 48809 4575 8.6
Wicomico 11-Nov 53153 48516 4637 8.7
Wicomico 11-Dec 53213 48619 4594 8.6
Wicomico 12-Jan 51246 46321 4925 9.6
Wicomico 12-Feb 52605 47554 5051 9.6 99
Wicomico 12-Mar 53073 48351 4722 8.9 -43
Wicomico 12-Apr 52786 48389 4397 8.3 -175
Wicomico 12-May 53608 49253 4355 8.1 164
Wicomico 12-Jun 54256 49598 4658 8.6 431
Wicomico 12-Jul 54877 50349 4528 8.3 738
Wicomico 12-Aug 53372 49007 4365 8.2 -51
Wicomico 12-Sep 52893 48773 4120 7.8 -928
Wicomico 12-Oct 52487 48385 4102 7.8 -897
Wicomico 12-Nov 52603 48276 4327 8.2 -550
Wicomico 12-Dec 52709 48085 4624 8.8 -504
Wicomico 13-Jan 51189 46296 4893 9.6 -57
Wicomico 13-Feb 51438 46764 4674 9.1 -1167
Wicomico 13-Mar 52101 47607 4494 8.6 -972
Wicomico 13-Apr 51799 47562 4237 8.2 -987 p
-4899 less 
p = preliminary. SOURCE:  BLS, LAUS workforce
21-Jun-13
 Article by Beezer - SBYnews Contributor 

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

The only reason to move to Salisbury would be to move closer to the social service office!

Anonymous said...

Oh and the No Job Shop Market!

Anonymous said...

I do not understand where the "labor force" number is coming from. We gained 600 more since january. So we have had 600 people move here since january? I dont believe it. I see instances where the number fluxuates by more than 1200. shady math

Anonymous said...

Looks like Salisbury is becoming Smallsbury. At this rate, our area will soon look like one of those western silver mining ghost towns.

Anonymous said...

I swear - if we do not get rid of this President there isn't going to be anything left. Where are all of people disappearing to? The number of working citizens in this county just keeps getting smaller and smaller.

Anonymous said...

Responding to 9:55 - I can tell you where all the people are disappearing to - they are going underground.

This is what happens when you keep taxing and taking away and taking away. It is now a matter of survival for the fittest.

Anonymous said...

I am one of those statistics now thanks to Jim Ireton.

Anonymous said...

9:55 - it is not just the president....our own local councils have recently voted to support the city and county executives to raise revenues to support their own agendas. The governor and his cronies are raising taxes and fees like these revenue streams are giant printing presses that they are simply pushing the 'print faster' button on.

Collectively, we voted for all of them - and we deserve what we are getting. We get another chance to redeem ourselves soon and we may if our heads are in the right places.....

Anonymous said...

The DUMBOcrats, in this case the JUMBOcrat is killing the entire county.

Anonymous said...

Scary to see this happening so close to home. So many incentives not to work - people have just given up.

Anonymous said...

10:39 AM I am not someone who gave up. I was a victim of political retaliation thanks to Jim Ireton.

Anonymous said...

Wait till Joe sees the citys new internet policy

Anonymous said...

Lots of county jobs in the DT today.Are people moving or what?

Anonymous said...

I to have all but given up trying to find work. Right now I qualify for the earned income tax credit. That coupled with the homestead tax exemption and Maryland food bank assistance and I believe I am better off today than with my previous job. I understand that I also qualify for a free cell phone but I have not had time to check it out.

Anonymous said...

Responding to 9:36 Comment

I believe the differences you cite lie in the fact that January's numbers are seasonal. When spring rolls around the monthly labor increases as people can work outdoors. You have to compare same month in 2011 to 2012 to 2013 in order to see the downward trend.

Anonymous said...

I believe that many hispanics or undocumented workers have taken many of the former american jobs. Think about it - an undocumented worker will work for cash. There is no record of him and thus no withholdings. That in itself is worth a savings of about 50%. If you go into any of the local convenience stores between 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. you will see what I am talking about.

Anonymous said...

If the governor, Pollit, Ireton, and both the City and County Council would get their heads out of their asse#, even their small brains would see the homeowner who pays all these taxes and fees can't afford increases to our taxes. Maybe just for once, the Board of Education could actually make due with what they have and stop the bleeding heart speeches about children's education. At this time, none of us can afford anything else. It's easy to make more taxes and fees on someone's dime but if the BOE, Mayor, Governor, Councils, and let's not forget the sorry excuse for a President, had to use their own money, I know they would be cutting back. The school unions and closed backdoor deals are destroying the education system and the quality of teaching.

STOP TAXING AND SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T HAVE AND MAKE DUE WITH WHAT WE HAVE. Even our highly educated should be able to read and understand the numbers and what is happening.

Anonymous said...

From looking at the stats - it looks as though wicomico has become another nanny state to me.

Anonymous said...

To 12:43 PM POSTING - DITTO!! You could not have stated it any clearer.

Anonymous said...

9:20 - you are absolutely right. Wicomico has turned into a socialist economy. No way out now - the legislature has practically sealed the deal with all of the environmental regs. and even the building industry cannot get us out. Best to look elsewhere for haven as MD and wicomico are off limits to ordinary middleclass folks. If you are interested in welfare - the Wicomico is perfect.

Anonymous said...

Joe
As I witnessed all the comments about the PRMC issue (100 plus comments) I had to wonder where was is outrage about what is happening in our local Gov't. I watched PAC 14 as the county council passed a 8 per cent tax increase and quickly spent over 10 million dollars more in taxpayer's monies. One council member explained all the raises that were being given and I believe there were raises in excess of 6,8, and 10 thousand dollar being given, were is the concern or don't people care? I care and I am sick of it. I do want to thank the council members who did not vote for this tax increase.

Anonymous said...

I hope everyone realizes that in order to have capitalism, you must have a level of unemployment. And while between 8-9% isn't really good for the collective work force (boy doesn't that sound socialist), it is far from the end of the world. If you have really low or no unemployment, then you have moved into a socialist economic structure. That's just simple 9th grade social studies.

Also, one can interpret statistics in a way that fits their opinion, so I appreciate you posting the full numbers Sbynews! Much more informative than The Daily Rag.

Anonymous said...

2:37pm That's old news. And if you don't understand why council had to raise the taxes, then there is no hope for you.

Anonymous said...

2:37pm Oh, and by the way, six of the seven members voted to raise taxes. So, explain exactly who you are thanking.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Wait till Joe sees the citys new internet policy

June 23, 2013 at 10:56 AM

Please let us know about it. Please give Joe a copy.

Anonymous said...

I look at the traffic in Salisbury on any day and the first thing that comes to my mind is from Seaford, DE to the Bay Bridge Tunnel, Cambridge, MD to Ocean City and jobs wise here's the way I see it. It's farming, poultry, Nassawodax Hospital, Salisbury University, PRMC, Atlantic General, Nanticoke Memorial, Dorchester General, Fed-Ex, UPS, DHL, K & L, Matech, banks, restaurants, Education systems, municipal governments, Doctors & related professionals, medical support facilities, elder care, real estate & housing related contractors, municipal government construction contractors, Postal Workers, a few other manufacturing companies with relatively small job numbers, the hospitality business, Wor-Wic, I just don't see one thing, where do all of these people work? The math doesn't lie and I for one don't see where we aren't on the verge of potentially the worst of the economy yet to come and it still may very well happen!

Anonymous said...

If you think the workforce numbers are bad now, just wait until the gang of 8 issue the new immigration class visa permit. The experts say that this will add 2 million more immigrints into america's workforce thus reducing the local area workforce numbers yet again.

Anonymous said...

To 5:11 - According to a Wall street broker - he is calling for the Dow to drop to 6000 very soon. There is a reason Burnake is exiting - and I'm not sure the public is aware of what is about to transpire.

Anonymous said...

Joe - I am very grateful for SBYnews publishing this information as the only other MSM is The Daily Times. I have never seen them cover anything on our local workforce scene.

Thanks again for your in-depth coverage.

Anonymous said...

Ref. 6:36 Posting about SBYnews

I also checked The Daily Times and there is no mention of local employment statistics. I would have also thought they would given the topic some coverage being that it is related to the local economy. I guess they just do not have adequate staffing anymore.

Anonymous said...

The nation's unemployment rate is at 7.6 percent, an alternate rate that counts discouraged Americans who've quit looking or are underemployed is nearly 14 percent. By looking at the BLS stats - I would say Wicomico fits into this category and that the overall underemployed is probably closer to 20%.

But the broader MD economy, including small businesses, are adjusting to higher taxes and deep government spending cuts. Bottom line: The small-business half of GDP is not generating growth beyond population gains - and that is terrible for Wicomico residents. What is happening is that Wicomico is starting to significantly increase spending levels - (from 2012-2013 Budget 116.8 million to 2013-2014 Budget 127.7 million)- and this is imposing undue hardship on Wicomico's residents especially since the GDP is not generating growth. This is also unsustainable and ought to open up the political arena for newcomers.

On the bright side - it really is an easy sell for those looking to debunk the status-quo. The upcoming election should prove very interesting as those seeking to hold office will have a hard sell.

Anonymous said...

Democratic death spiral! Higher taxes more regs. lead to less jobs. Fewer jobs require higher subsidies for unemployed and under employed and result in higher taxes for remaining workers. New employers and high income families relocate seeking more favorable tax climate, exasperating the problem. Higher taxes and fees are required for remaining workers. Percentage of subsidized families increase, shifting the vote towards a more subsidized society. This requires higher taxes and fees for remaining worker. How do we break the spiral? Unfortunately, we can't. That's the problem with being a minority and in Maryland we are clearly a minority. Unfortunately, it won't be long and we will be a minority in the United States of America.

If you were paying attention, Obama promised to transform America. It is clear to me that he has accomplished that and in doing so is well on his way to flushing the entire country down the toilet.

Anonymous said...

10:06 BINGO!

How's that change working for y'all?

Anonymous said...

Little Detroit.

Anonymous said...

It's not just Wicomico. I'm sure its just as bad if not worse in
Dorchester, and Somerset as well! I'm certain statewide, the true unemployment figures are bad as well. They are not counting all the ones who have either run out of unemployment or have simply dropped out of the labor force! I still see a lot of homes for sale and a lot of abandoned homes that are no longer maintained.

Chloe said...

Get off the Obama train. If you want change it starts with you city/county council, mayor, and governor and state leaders.

Anonymous said...

Chloe said...
Get off the Obama train. If you want change it starts with you city/county council, mayor, and governor and state leaders.

June 30, 2013 at 10:15 PM

People have been jumping off that train left and right, where you been? There are a few diehard fanatics here and there but for the most part, obammy is alone. Save for the ashtray we have as vice president.

And I would guess the fanatics have about the same I.Q. as he.