Even though the state’s unemployment rate slightly increased, those looking for a job in Maryland last month may have had better luck, as more jobs were added.

During July, the state saw its unemployment rate increase from 7.2 percent to 7.3 percent, which is lower than the national unemployment rate of 9.4 percent. Maryland hasn’t seen its unemployment rate decrease since April, when it went from 6.9 percent to 6.8 percent.

Maryland had a total non-farm employment of 2,551,700 workers during July, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 2,541,700 workers during June, but a 1.9 percent decrease from last year.

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Older workers looking for Maryland job openings, as well as openings in some other states, will soon get some help.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently gave $10 million to organizations that connect older workers with jobs. The money is meant to retrain workers who are 55 and older for jobs in high-growth industries, such as healthcare or green-collar jobs.

The funds were broken up into 10 grants worth about $1 million each and given to organizations in Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. On top of that, the Atlantic Philanthropies will invest another $3.6 million toward the effort.

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A focus on the state’s aerospace industry could help create many Maryland science jobs.

Gov. Martin O’Malley recently announced a strategic vision for expanding the space industry throughout Maryland. This comes only days after the state unveiled a multi-year plan to expand its biotech industry. The new vision is designed to take advantage of the innovation and uniqueness of the state’s federal institutions.

Maryland is home to 16 of the country’s top 25 space industry manufacturing and service companies, including the Goddard Space Flight Center and the Hubble Space Telescope Science Institute. The state also has attracted private sector space industry companies like CSC, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, ATK, ARINC, Orbital Services, SAIC, Battelle, General Dynamics, Hughes Network Systems and Honeywell.

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An effort between Gov. Martin O’Malley and the Mediterranean Shipping Company will help keep hundreds of Maryland careers in the state.

O’Malley and officials from MSC recently signed a six-year extension to the current contract between the Port of Baltimore and the MSC, an international container shipping company based in Geneva. The deal will help keep 628 direct jobs in Maryland and ensure the continued shipment of containerized cargo through the Port of Baltimore.

“In these difficult economic times, I am very pleased to receive an extended commitment from one of the top container shipping companies in the world,” O’Malley said in a press release. “This extension keeps good-paying, family-supporting jobs at the economic engine that is the Port of Baltimore. Maryland is proud to be signing the third long-term contract in a year when many ports are facing much harder times.”

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The creation of Maryland’s first Clean Energy Center will help create thousands of green-collar jobs. Click here to see more Maryland jobs.

The facility will be located at the Camille Kendall Academic Center at the University of Maryland, The Universities at Shady Grove. The center will help support the state’s “smart, green and growing” efforts by offering assistance to newly developed technologies with pilot projects; the collection, analysis and dissemination of industry data and providing outreach and technical support to further Maryland’s clean energy industry.

“Today’s announcement marks yet another large step towards our goal of creating 100,000 ‘green collar’ jobs by 2015,” Gov. Martin O’Malley said in a press release. “This Center will leverage greater opportunities for our workers and a cleaner, greener Maryland for our families.

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Anyone looking for a Maryland job may have a tough time finding work.

The State of Maryland has lost 39,000 jobs since January 2008. According to an article by Gazette.net, about 185,000 workers were unemployed during January 2009, an increase of 15 percent from December 2008 and an increase of 72 percent from last year. The state’s unemployment rose from 5.4 percent to 6.2 percent during January, the highest unemployment rate since 1993.

Maryland had a total non-farm employment of 2,574,400 workers during January, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 2,568,400 during December 2008, but a decrease of 1.5 percent from last year.

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Those with Maryland education jobs recently received some great news.

Education Week’s 2009 Quality Counts annual report ranked Maryland as having the best public school system in the country out of all 50 states, an increase from the state’s third-place position last year. The report takes into account: chance for success; transitions and alignment; school finance; K-12 achievement; standards, assessments, and accountability and the teaching profession.

Maryland ranked number one in transitions and alignment policies, which measures a state’s ability to connect the K-12 education system with early learning, higher education and the workforce. The state earned a grade of 100 for early-childhood education, a grade of 90 for college readiness and a grade of 100 for the economy and the workforce.

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While a new liquefied natural gas facility could create new Maryland construction jobs, the idea of such a plant is already causing controversy throughout the state.

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently issued a conditional approval of an application for a liquefied natural gas facility and pipeline in Sparrow’s Point, Md. The move not only could create several Maryland construction jobs, but also some other permanent jobs at the plant. However, the state’s government feels the plant will only cause trouble.

Governor Martin O’Malley issued a press release stating that the construction of the plant could have catastrophic security and environmental implications for the entire state, including potentially severe impacts to the Chesepeake Bay area and the fishermen and boaters who use it.

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Some Maryland healthcare jobs will soon be cut as one company plans to reduce its workforce by more than half.

EntreMed recently announced its plan to cut 60 percent of its workers, which will allow the company to focus on its development activities and support research for the next 18 months. According to an article by FierceBiotech, the company hopes to reduce its research activities to a minimal level and find third parties to help keep costs low.

As part of the layoffs, CEO Jim Burns and CFO Dane Saglio’s jobs will be cut. Kenneth Bair, senior vice president of research and development and Thomas Bliss, senior vice president of corporate and business development, also are looking at job cuts. Chief Medical Officer Carolyn Sidor will oversee clinical development and Mark Bray, vice president of research, will lead the research support for clinical activities.

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People in Maryland are focusing on green energy, something that could create many new Maryland construction jobs.

The largest solar manufacturing assembly plant, owned by BP Solar, is located in Frederick, Maryland. The plant provides plenty of skilled jobs for workers, and the further development of alternative energy could provide millions more jobs while at the same time increase the country’s independence on foreign energy.

According to an article by the Baltimore Sun, newly-elect President Barack Obama has promised to invest in alternative fuels. However, as the economy has made the cost of oil and natural gas lower as of late, that goal might be harder to reach.

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