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Sunday, July 06, 2014

Wicomico County Continues To Lose Its Employment Job Base - Workforce Numbers Diminish for 17th Consecutive Month

The employment woes in Wicomico continue as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its May job numbers for our nations States & Counties.  The latest month - May 2014 - workforce jobs numbers reveal that Wicomico lost another 826 workers when compared to May of 2013.  This makes the 17th consecutive month that Wicomico has lost ground in the local employment arena.  April's unemployment rate was revised downward to 7.0% from its previously reported number 7.1%.  Looking at the data also reveals that Wicomico County has reported workforce reductions in 23 of the past 29 months.  The last time Wicomico County reported a positive workforce increase was in December of 2012. 



Labor Force Data By County, Not Seasonally Adjusted 
01-2011 through 05-2014
Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemploy.Change over prior 
CountyPeriodLabor ForceEmployedUnemployedRate %years 2011 - 2014
Wicomico11-Jan5223146838539310.3
Wicomico11-Feb529814772252599.9
Wicomico11-Mar536014874348589.1
Wicomico11-Apr532594865346068.6
Wicomico11-May536784899446848.7
Wicomico11-Jun541904916050309.3
Wicomico11-Jul538734886250119.3
Wicomico11-Aug531464813250149.4
Wicomico11-Sep538504897648749.1
Wicomico11-Oct530114820148109.1
Wicomico11-Nov525994769049099.3
Wicomico11-Dec523694745149189.4
Wicomico12-Jan5193646758517810-295
Wicomico12-Feb528094765151589.8-172
Wicomico12-Mar529954820247939-606
Wicomico12-Apr525484819343558.3-711
Wicomico12-May536474917144768.3-31
Wicomico12-Jun543444958547598.8154
Wicomico12-Jul551125036947438.61239
Wicomico12-Aug537924926245308.4646
Wicomico12-Sep535294920843218.1-321
Wicomico12-Oct533334887644578.4322
Wicomico12-Nov527144818045348.6115
Wicomico12-Dec528674808647819498
Wicomico13-Jan518724680650669.8-64
Wicomico13-Feb521554729748589.3-654
Wicomico13-Mar523964787245248.6-599
Wicomico13-Apr522044805041548-344
Wicomico13-May534844926142237.9-163
Wicomico13-Jun535174899145268.5-827
Wicomico13-Jul541074984342647.9-1005
Wicomico13-Aug532744930239727.5-518
Wicomico13-Sep527634894238217.2-766
Wicomico13-Oct527404881439267.40%-593
Wicomico13-Nov525634845341107.80%-151
Wicomico13-Dec525084849440247.70%-359
Wicomico14-Jan510494671143388.50%-823
Wicomico14-Feb509054675741488.10%-1250
Wicomico14-Mar512034726139427.70%-1193
Wicomico14-Apr513124772935837.00%-892r
Wicomico14-May526584892037387.10%-826p
-10189less 
p = preliminary.SOURCE:  BLS, LAUSworkforce
r = revised1-Jul-14

Article Published by SBYnews Editorial staff 


42 comments:

Anonymous said...

And the local city and county workers continue to cost us more than their salaries and benefits in that they are spending 'petty cash' money like there's no tomorrow!

Great if you've got a gimme / appointed / crony acquired position on the taxpayers dime!

Anonymous said...

My analogy is directed to our current County Executive.

As my high school history teacher used to say;

'You know what you are going to get for your poor performance on your homework, quizzes, and test, I'll tell you what you are going to get - YOU ARE GOING TO GET E.

- AND WHEN YOUR PARENTS COME IN AND ASK ME WHY - I'M GOING TO SHOW THEM WHY . . . '

Anonymous said...

It is easy to observe that our economy is not performing. Abandoned homes, yards are not being cut, vacant storefronts, abandoned buildings, and there are panhandlers walking everywhere. It is really pathetic.

Anonymous said...

And yet the taxes continue to increase. That's their formula for the middle class - tax them until the middle class falls into a lower class. All the time the Administration is eating 'high off the hog'.

Anonymous said...

And Salisbury looks like it to. There are gapping potholes everywhere. Has anyone noticed the shopping center parking lots?

Look at the Centre of Salisbury mall blacktop, or how about parking lots at the Twilley Center, and K-mart, and the Goliath Shopping Center. Everyone has patches and big cracks. These are all signs of a bad economy.

Anonymous said...

Poor leader + high taxes = poverty Salisbury/Wicomico is getting exactly what they deserve. I can't wait to sell my home and get out of here.

Anonymous said...

There are simply no decent jobs. Virtually all of Salisbury's industries have disappeared. About the only ones remaining are the takers or the underprivileged. I agree that a very bad economic scenario has existed for quite some time now. Hopefully, we have hit bottom.

Anonymous said...

2:03 You have to be talking about Mr. Johnson! I had him for history in 1976. He used to tell me about graduation, "The only stage you gonna walk across is the one you build yo'self!" I got there! lol

Anonymous said...

Is the economic development guy still around?See when you have to deal with all the enviromental agencies in Md and have to pay to play no one wants to build here only taxpayer funded government buildings is what you get.

Anonymous said...

The work force pool in this area is not one that is going to inspire any good jobs to relocate here.

Anonymous said...

The call center isn't a good job either. It is entry level whereby one is scrapping for rock bottom.

Anonymous said...

Raise taxes and cut services, build bigger schools while depriving kids of an education, become a showcase showing Detriot what real failure is.

HOLY COW BATMAN...things are bad said...

I get $1,500.00 a month for each of the 10 kids I have; was never good at Math 10 X $%1,500.00 ==... and, I have to settle for Food Stamps, Free Housing, EBT Cards, Utilities Paid for, Central Air Conditioning and worse yet, I have to call for a Bus for a ride to go hang out at the Cub....

Anonymous said...

Responding to 2:43 Ditto!

The only jobs that have been created around here are ones like the new Dunkin Donuts in front of Sam's. And I know that those type jobs don't pay anywhere near what it requires to exist.

Anonymous said...

My uncle was the only one in our family to ever walk across a stage.The problem was when he fell through a trap door.Thankfully he had a rope around his neck to stop him.

Anonymous said...

To 2:41 Posting - you guessed it right. It was Mr. Johnson. Although he was very outspoken, he was always on-point when it came to academics. He called it like he saw it. And by any set of standards, Wicomicos economy is sub-par.

Anonymous said...

2:03 I to had Mr. Johnson for history. I can still recall his grade book whereby he would record a students performance. And he would give you ample warning about receipt of an -E- if he deemed it to be sub-standard.

Anonymous said...

Doctor Memo Diriker thinks everything is just fine, and booming!

Who are all you to be naysayers?

Anonymous said...

Taxes, licenses, fees, and over regulation are the biggest deterrents to prospective businesses. Even well renown and established ones will move if the environment isn't just right. Businesses are very similar to nature in that the environment has to be right. In my own estimation, things haven't been right around here for a long time.

Anonymous said...

5:28 - The environment isn't right for a normal business economy. Sooner or latter the current economy is going to fall flat on its back. And when it does it isn't going to be pretty.

Anonymous said...

I work in social services here in Wicomico. According to the census report 1 in every five live below the poverty level here in Wicomico.

Anonymous said...

I have a bad feeling about what this winter will bring. And I thought last winter was a hard one to get through.

Anonymous said...

Joe -

This table says that there were 49,261 persons employed in May 2013 and 48,920 this May -- that's only 341 less "workers" not 826. And in January there were only 46,711, so we have increased employed by more than 2,000 since then.

Anonymous said...

6:42 - Better go back to grade school. According to the numbers the May-2014 math no. -826 is correct. The number of workers in Wicomico workforce in May 2014 is 52658. The number of workers in Wicomico workforce in May 2013 was 53484.

Bottom line: 53484 - 52658 = (-826) less workers.

Anonymous said...

6:21
That means 80 percent DO NOT

Anonymous said...

These are pretty dismal numbers by any set of standards. It doesn't surprise me though, considering the shear number of government regulations. Any State that imposes a tax for simply flushing your toilet, and then, doubling it, is worse than the crap in the bowl.

Anonymous said...

Reference to 9:03 - I have to admit you have a valid point. First the State takes a little bit this year, and then some more the next year. Before you know it, they have their teeth into you real deep. I can see why businesses aren't locating to this State. Maryland is in a State of Confusion.

Anonymous said...

Reference to 9:03 - I have to admit you have a valid point. First the State takes a little bit this year, and then some more the next year. Before you know it, they have their teeth into you real deep. I can see why businesses aren't locating to this State. Maryland is in a State of Confusion.

Anonymous said...

State & County officials have more or less painted themselves into a corner. Now, there is no way out except to walk across the wet floor.
In other words, the situation is dire and the solution isn't going to be pretty.

Anonymous said...

There are some jobs, but I have to admit that the real good jobs are slim picking at best, at least in Wicomico. I recently graduated from SU with a business degree and have thought about continuing work for WaWa. Instead I have decided to go into lawn maintenance.

Anonymous said...

I noticed that Waller's Landing also is in foreclosure proceedings. Man-o-man this bad economy just keeps coming at you.

Anonymous said...

There is a new fast food establishment at the former Long John Silver. Don't know how many they employ, but it seems as though this is the new norm for Salisbury and Wicomico. My best guess is they probably start at about 8/hr. Maybe.

Anonymous said...

Most salaried jobs now in Wicomico start in the 8-10/hr. range. The wages used to be more when Salisbury had some key industries. When they left, the labor force became saturated very fast and wages have declined. Factor in increased government regulations, higher taxes & fees, particularly impact fees, and it was a quick recipe for an economic disaster. I saw it coming long before it happened. Unfortunately Maryland/Wicomico/Salisbury have been plagued with very poor leaders. Now - we the citizens are paying the price.

Anonymous said...

Plain and simple, there are not enough jobs.

Anonymous said...

"I can't wait to sell my home and get out of here."
Who in their right mind would buy a home in da'bury . That's funny.

Anonymous said...

Responding to 9:55 - I agree. Just this morning I saw on MSN featuring Maryland listed as the 10th most expensive state to live in. And let's not forget that Maryland is listed as the No.2 spot in foreclosures. People are just abandoning their homes and getting out. Some don't even care about trying to salvage their own homes net worth evaluation, THEY JUST WANT OUT!

Anonymous said...

6:59 is wrong & 6:42 is correct.

The term "workers" means employed persons, not wannabe workers, many of whom won't accept jobs for various reasons, such a staying on the dole provided by Democrats.

Looks like a real gain in jobs so fat this year!

Anonymous said...

Maryland is nothing but tax and spend.

Anonymous said...

And some people wonder why Salisbury's crime rate is so high. Its all about jobs! They are scant at best, at least here in Wicomico.

Anonymous said...

I believe 5:42 poster is another left wing democrat who still believes 1+1=3.

Anonymous said...

The majority of County Council being Republican, supposedly conservative, do nothing to reduce cost of government. No adhoc committees appointed to review ways to stream line operations or reduce personnel through attrition and/or privatization. Instead tax increases proposed by the executive along with huge pay increases are approved. Only two lone council members have the courage, fortitude and decency to vote no.

Matt Holloway votes yes, and what do we do as voters, we turn around and give this immature yes man for Pollitt and the special interests a majority vote in the primaries. Are we that stupid, or are we just uninformed. Probably a combination of both!

Anonymous said...

Response to 5:17 Posting

DITTO! I couldn't agree with you more. Matt Holloway is a RINO and most any republican worth their salt knows it. How he was able to garner as many votes as he did in the primary shocked me to. IMHO I believe we have a lot of uneducated people who are voting.