Maryland Job

Mass layoffs spiked in July as Maryland job growth continued to slow, a sign that the sputtering national economy is hitting home. Employers added a total of 500 jobs, with more brisk hiring in the private sector tempered by the loss of temporary Census Bureau positions, the U.S. Department of Labor estimated Friday. That's the smallest increase since the state switched course from losses to gains in March, according to figures adjusted to account for seasonal changes in hiring and layoffs.

Former Republican candidate for Comptroller of Maryland released the following statement this afternoon about Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed gas tax increase: In 2010, I spoke openly about the reckless prospect of raising gasoline taxes here in Maryland. Unfortunately, our representatives in Annapolis failed to listen, and have embarked upon a path to raising the gas tax here in Maryland. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a gas tax hike is a bad deal for Maryland families and job creators.

Carol James Taylor, an accountant who has been unemployed since she lost her sight in 1979, waited patiently in line for 15 minutes to reach the table staffed by a recruiter from the Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Maryland -- only to find out the company wasn't hiring."

Your editorial advocating tax increases to fix Annapolis' job-killing spending problem once again misses the mark ("Tax increases should be on the table," Aug. 23). Government's insistence on uncontrolled, unsustainable spending has saddled future generations of Americans with record debt. Believing that significant cuts are not immediately needed is both naive and unwise. Maryland's revenues have not kept pace with the growth of the state budget, forcing elected officials to scramble to cover billion dollar-plus deficits.

Whether you're unemployed or just interested in advancing your career, Maryland residents can take advantage of a new service provided by Maryland Job Service, which is part of the state's Office of Employment Services.And you can do it in the comfort of your favorite shopping mall.It's called the Chesapeake Job Bank System -- an array of self-service, computerized kiosks at shopping malls throughout the Baltimore area. They're easy-to-use tools that let potential job applicants search a nationwide listing of job openings while they shop.

No computer experience is required to operate CareerNet, a touch screen, one-stop shop to explore career information and search for employment.The online system at Carroll County Business & Employment Resource Center in Westminster has been helping workers find jobs and jobs find workers since December.CareerNet offers access to job listings nationwide on the Web pages of America's Job Bank and Visions. It also provides access to information on labor market trends, which includes salary data and occupation demand.

No computer experience is required to operate CareerNet, a touch screen, one-stop shop to explore career information and search for employment.The online system at Carroll County Business & Employment Resource Center in Westminster has been helping workers find jobs and jobs find workers since December.CareerNet offers access to job listings nationwide on the Web pages of America's Job Bank and Visions. It also provides access to information on labor market trends, which includes salary data and occupation demand.

Thomas Wisniewski said he went to the Blue Collar Job Fair at Dundalk Community College yesterday hoping to hear words he hadn't heard in 10 years and nine months: "I want to hire you."Ten years ago, Mr. Wisniewski, who lives in Dundalk, took a job as a maintenance repair man for a clothing manufacturer. He was laid off from that job nine months ago."Not being able to find work, being rejected all the time, is so depressing," he said. "You get up in the morning and you feel like you don't even exist anymore.

Kansas State coach not seeking new jobKansas State football coach Bill Snyder said last night that he will remain at the school and is not a candidate for either the Maryland job or University of Minnesota job, according to a spokesman at Kansas State.Ben Boyle, Kansas State sports information director, said he spoke with Snyder last night after an Associated Press story had said Snyder was a candidate for the Minnesota job."Bill told me that he is not interested in the Minnesota job, the Maryland job or any other job that comes along," Boyle said.

WESTMINSTER CHURCH OF God and Chick-fil-A of Westminster are teaming up again for the annual Harvest Hoe-down at 5 p.m. Saturday at the church on Lucabaugh Mill Road off Route 27. The evening will be centered around the Millennium Hoe-down, and those attending are encouraged to wear farmer attire. The first 100 children to arrive will receive a free T-shirt. Games, such as potato sack races and seed spitting contests, will be played. Balloon creations, face painting, pumpkin decorating and hayrides will be featured.

Your recent editorial advocating taxation of online sales ("The digital divide," June 26) understates the legal and practical difficulties of imposing such a tax. Far from being a "subsidy" or "tax exemption" for such sellers, the current law is based on the Supreme Court's ruling that the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution bars states from imposing sales tax collection responsibilities on companies that are not physically present in...

There's no denying the convenience and simplicity of shopping online. Successful retailers like Amazon.com and Overstock.com have become giants as a result. Small wonder that online sales have grown to an estimated $200 billion annually, or about 7 percent of all retail transactions that take place in this country. But should taxpayers be forced to subsidize the industry? That's essentially what happens now as the bulk of digital sales are not subject to state and local sales taxes.

A recent article in The Sun noted Maryland's dismal position as last in the nation in terms of the number of jobs created. Of the words that came to my mind, "shocked" was not one of them. Throughout my 2010 campaign for the office of state comptroller, I warned voters of this exact situation. The policies that have been a mainstay in Annapolis for decades have driven Maryland into a state of economic ruin. (And, just for the record, both Democrats and Republicans are to blame.) Throughout the campaign, I promoted a "Texas model" to spur economic growth here in Maryland.

The latest news on Maryland's economy has been disappointing at best. The state lost more than 13,000 jobs in May, one of the highest job losses in the country. But worse, the unfavorable monthly data comes on the heels of a U.S. Department of Labor report that ranks Maryland dead last in the nation in job creation over the last 12 months. That's not something to be taken lightly — losing 20,000 jobs over the past year amounts to a 1 percent hit to Maryland's employment base.

The Sun is out touch with the rest of the population on taxes ("A dime's worth of difference," May 23). With some counties in Maryland experiencing 15 percent unemployment, the paper should be calling on the governor and state lawmakers to create a climate that fosters job creation. People want jobs, not higher taxes and higher prices at the pump. M. Link, Baltimore

There is that marvelous recruiting base that runs the length of the Baltimore-Washington corridor. There is the stunning arena, the Comcast Center, where kids — young men — get to play in a pro setting. Now there is the tradition that Gary Williams carved out over 22 seasons, the undeniable vitality of a top tier Division I program resurrected to new heights by the coach who came back home to do it. What's not to like about Maryland basketball? "When I take the pulse around college basketball," ESPN analyst Dave Telep said, "I think this is one job that can be dangerous to a lot of people.

Although Maryland athletic director Andy Geiger is expected to intensify his talks with Dennis Green about the vacant Maryland job, Stanford's football coach is expected to stay with the Cardinal, an official in Stanford's athletic department said yesterday.The official said he expected Geiger to talk further with Green now that the Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl has been played. Stanford lost to Georgia Tech, 18-17, Wednesday."I know they have talked before, but I don't know the extent of their talk," said the official, who asked not to be identified.

COLLEGE PARK -- A source at Maryland said last night that Northwestern assistant Ron Vanderlinden will be the Terps' next head football coach.Several Chicago television stations reported last night that Vanderlinden told the Northwestern players and head coach Gary Barnett that he had accepted the job at Maryland, which became open when Mark Duffner was fired eight days ago.According to WMVP Radio in Chicago, Vanderlinden was offered the job over the weekend...

Maryland employers created far fewer jobs in 2010 than originally estimated, with businesses reversing course from hiring to layoffs in the latter part of the year — painting a picture of an economic recovery that's tenuous at best. The newly revised figures released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor show Maryland with a gain of about 4,500 jobs in the 12 months ending in December. That's a fraction of the 25,000-job increase the government had earlier estimated, using preliminary data.