If you want a job in Montgomery County, then the chances are high you can find one. The County’s Economic Development Corporation released the June jobless figures on Wednesday. The numbers are eye-popping. The preliminary unemployment rate fell to 1.5% in June. That is the lowest rate in the County in the month of June in more than 30 years.
Jobless Rate Lower Than Any Other Jurisdiction In The Area
June’s figure was lower than Maryland’s unemployment rate which was 1.7% and lower than the national average which was 3.8%.
“These trends are a sign that businesses are coming back following the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are fortunate to have a diverse economy that is anchored by several federal agencies, a strong biotech industry, as well as travel and tourism,” County Executive Marc Elrich said.
Elrich addressed the robust economic developments at a news conference on Wednesday.
He said, “The creation of our business center, accompanied by grants, workshops and procurement opportunities have paved the way for more growth. Our small business liaisons are on the front lines, assisting business owners in surmounting the challenges they face. Another independent dispensable tool in our Workforce Development arsenal is WorkSource Montgomery. We’ve revolutionized how we help people find work by offering classes in diverse languages and retooling skills for higher paying positions.”
Bouncing Back From The Pandemic
Bill Tompkins is President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC). He said the labor force is almost back to where it was in 2019. He said 543,000 people are currently working. One of the driving forces for jobs has been a push by the Elrich administration to expand the life sciences industry in the County.
“In terms of scientific and professional jobs, we’ve grown by 9.4% over where we were before the pandemic. It really shows we are attracting more people to work here in segments that are important to us,” Tompkins said.
More Work To Do
While unemployment is low right now, Tompkins said the Elrich administration is not letting up and is always looking to improve its performance.
“There are 5,000 companies that we are targeting, to help accelerate their growth, either through expansion efforts, or through job additions. And that momentum will not stop,” Tompkins said.
Despite the positive economic news the latest figures show about 8,200 County residents are still looking for work. Overall the work force is about 16,000 less than it was pre-pandemic in 2020.
Helping Connect People To Jobs
Anthony Featherstone is the executive director of WorkSource Montgomery. He said one of the biggest challenges is reengaging so-called ‘discouraged workers’.
“The Department of Labor defines discouraged workers as workers who may have searched for work over the last 12 months, but have not been active over the last four weeks. They may not be active overall because they believe there are no jobs out there for them or there are circumstances that hinder them from entering the labor market,” Featherstone said.
Reports indicate older workers, ex-offenders, English learners, and people with differing abilities fall into this category. WorkSource Montgomery is trying to engage with these workers through a variety of ways: its mobile Job Center, and physical jobs centers in Wheaton, Germantown, and the East County Regional Services Center. People also can connect through WorkSource Montgomery’s Virtual Job Center.
