Washington Co. unemployment rates (By Chad Trovinger, Graphic Artist) |
The unemployment rate for Washington County dropped substantially in April, but the number of people working was also down, according to preliminary figures released Friday by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
The jobless rate fell from 9.9 percent in March to 9.1 percent in April, but the number of people working dipped by 128 to 61,043, the report said.
The April figure was the lowest jobless percentage since the rate was 9 percent in January 2009.
The number of people listed as unemployed fell by 573 to 6,114, the fewest since January 2009, according to previous DLLR reports.
There was also a drop in the labor force — the combination of people working, unemployed and seeking work. That fell by 701 to 67,157 in April, the report said.
While the new jobless rate is the lowest in more than two years, the numbers indicate more people might have given up looking for work during the month, a category the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calls "discouraged workers."
"Looking at the numbers, that's the only thing that makes any sense," said Tim Troxell, executive director of the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission. "People's benefits have run out, and they aren't actively looking for work."
Industry sectors showed little movement up or down during the month, Troxell said.
"They are all about equal or have gone up a small amount," Troxell said of the employment sectors.
"There's nothing specific you can pin it on," he said of the lower unemployment rate.
The jobless rate in Hagerstown was 10.2 percent, up from 10.1 percent in March, but the city started the year with an 11 percent jobless rate in January, the report said.
There were 16,935 people with jobs in the city, and 1,914 unemployed, the report said.
The jobless rate fell from 9.9 percent in March to 9.1 percent in April, but the number of people working dipped by 128 to 61,043, the report said.
The April figure was the lowest jobless percentage since the rate was 9 percent in January 2009.
The number of people listed as unemployed fell by 573 to 6,114, the fewest since January 2009, according to previous DLLR reports.
There was also a drop in the labor force — the combination of people working, unemployed and seeking work. That fell by 701 to 67,157 in April, the report said.
While the new jobless rate is the lowest in more than two years, the numbers indicate more people might have given up looking for work during the month, a category the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calls "discouraged workers."
"Looking at the numbers, that's the only thing that makes any sense," said Tim Troxell, executive director of the Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission. "People's benefits have run out, and they aren't actively looking for work."
Industry sectors showed little movement up or down during the month, Troxell said.
"They are all about equal or have gone up a small amount," Troxell said of the employment sectors.
"There's nothing specific you can pin it on," he said of the lower unemployment rate.
The jobless rate in Hagerstown was 10.2 percent, up from 10.1 percent in March, but the city started the year with an 11 percent jobless rate in January, the report said.
There were 16,935 people with jobs in the city, and 1,914 unemployed, the report said.
