Maryland’s unemployment rate dropped below 7 percent in November after adding roughly 2,000 jobs last month, the U.S. Department of Labor reported on Tuesday.
The new jobs numbers continue a two-month positive trend in job growth since September, when the state’s jobless rate was stuck at 7.4 percent after a couple months of rising unemployment. In April and May, the state’s unemployment rate hovered around 6.8 percent.
“The private sector continues to drive our job growth,” Gov. Martin O’Malley said Tuesday. “However, in order for businesses to create more jobs, government must do its job… 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.”
The state’s unemployment rate is 1.7 percentage points below the national average.
