Governor Martin O’Malley today issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Labor’s release of preliminary employment data for the month of September and October Jobs Report:
“After Maryland achieved positive job growth in 7 of the last 12 months, Congress chose to enact harmful sequestration cuts, put us through a costly and unnecessary government shutdown, and brought us to the brink of a confidence-shaking national credit default — all of which create a drag on economic growth and slow job creation.
“Despite these unnecessary economic headwinds, Maryland has shown tremendous growth and resilience, with our private sector leading the way by creating 23,000 new jobs over the past 12 months, or eight out ten new jobs. And Maryland’s unemployment rate, while still too high, is more than eight percent below the national average.
“In addition, all three major credit ratings agencies have re-affirmed Maryland’s fiscally responsible approach by certifying our State as one of only nine with a Triple A bond rating. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranks Maryland #1 for entrepreneurship and innovation for the second year in a row and in the top ten for economic performance for the fourth consecutive year. There is still more work to be done, but by coming together to make better choices we will continue to create opportunities for a growing and upwardly mobile middle class.”
