July 22nd, 2016 by WCBC Radio
Maryland employers added nearly 10,000 jobs last month, a robust gain that helped drive down the unemployment rate.
The state's unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in June, down two tenths of a percentage point from May, the Labor Department said Friday. That's signifcantly lower than the 4.9 percent national average.
The increase of 9,800 jobs was among the state's top three monthly gains in the last 12 months.
Some of the decline in the unemployment rate could also be traced to a contracting labor force. Since April, the number of people working or looking for work has retreated by nearly 9,000, though it remains higher than last year.
Maryland was one of 18 states that added jobs in June, as unemployment rates held steady in 43 states and Washington.
The leisure and hospitality sector reported the largest increase in Maryland, adding 6,100 jobs. Payrolls at professional and business services firms swelled by 2,600, while the trade, transportation and utilities sector added 1,700 jobs.
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