Eye on the Economy: An Interactive Look at Maryland and the Regional Economy in April 2021

• The most recent jobs report showed that for April 2021, Maryland gained a total of 3,800 jobs.

• The official unemployment rate for Maryland held steady at 6.2 percent.

Survey your employees to prepare for success.

More than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered most organizations, many are reopening their offices. However, 66% of employees are worried about returning to the office, according to a recent survey. How do your employees feel?

Now's the time to survey your employees to gain valuable data to better support employees during this period of immense uncertainty.

Jobs in Baltimore County go unfilled even as COVID conditions improve
WYPR, 5/16/2021

Unemployment, particularly in retail and service industries, remains high even as COVID-19 fears subside. Baltimore County has around 30,000 fewer employed residents now than before the pandemic, but around 22,000 of those individuals are not receiving unemployment benefits. RESI Chief Economist Daraius Irani explains that there has been a substantial national increase in the number of individuals who are not working and not being counted. Irani notes that this group includes moms who could not find safe and affordable childcare when schools closed down as well as individuals whose jobs have not yet returned.

Marquee events cancelled for another year in cash strapped city
Fox 45 Baltimore, 5/13/2021

Despite the easing of the CDC’s mask guidance, many remain cautious in regards to large social events. Baltimore City Mayor, Brandon Scott, announced recently that the Fourth of July Firework show at the Inner Harbor will be cancelled this year, the second year in a row, due to COVID-19. This announcement came shortly after the city’s popular summer event, Artscape, also announced its cancellation. The city relies heavily on these events for economic activity. RESI Chief Economist Daraius Irani says that Artscape typically has a $28 million dollar economic footprint and that the fireworks show could have generated anywhere from $2.5 to $7.5 million in economic activity. In the absence of these large events the city will be losing out on millions in economic impact in an already devastating year.