Family unemployment down in 2012

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released national data on unemployment within families today. In 2012, the percentage of families with at least one unemployed member was 10.5 percent, down from 11.5 percent one year prior. 80 percent of families had at least one employed member.

As with other employment statistics, unemployment was higher among Black and Hispanic families, at 16.8 percent and 14.5 percent with at least one unemployed member, respectively.

Female headed households also fared worse, with just 72.4 percent having at least one employed member. Married couples fared better at 81.9 percent; and both the husband and wife were employed in 47.4 percent of married-couple families in 2012. Both parents worked in 59 percent of married-couple families with children, likely reflecting the high cost of child care.

The Week Ahead

Last week we blogged about the release of national data about poverty, and previewed this week's release of the American Community Survey. And in case you missed it, Neil Bergsman appeared in the Examiner last Saturday discussing our new brief on Question 7, expanded gambling.

Tuesday, September 18th

• Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services receives briefings on mental health parity, federal healthcare reform, the Mental Health Collaborative between the Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and of Public Safety and Correctional Services, and integrated care. 1pm in the Joint Hearing Room, Department of Legislative Services, 90 State Circle, Annapolis.
• Commission to Study Campaign Finance Law meets. 3pm in room 130, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Community Services Reimbursement Rate meets to approve the 2012 Annual report and other business. 6-8pm in the conference room of the Maryland Association of Community Services, 8835 Columbia 100 Parkway, Unit P, Columbia.
• Maryland Health Quality and Cost Council meets to discuss reducing hospital readmissions. 1-3pm in conference room L-1 of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 301 W. Preston Street, Baltimore.

Wednesday, September 19th

• Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families meets to welcome the new Superintendent of Schools and receive an update on charter schools. 10am in room 130, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing meets to discuss Medicaid long-term care issues. 1pm in room 240, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Joint Committee on Welfare Reform receives an update on the state's Family Investment Program and other welfare-related topics. 10am in room 120, House Office Building, Annapolis.
• Board of Public Works meets. 10am in the Governor's Reception Room on the second floor of the State House.
• Workgroup on Access to Habilitative Services Benefits meets. 9-11am in the Maryland Insurance Administration hearing room, 24th Floor, St. Paul Plaza, 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore.

Thursday, September 20th

• Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee visits farms in Frederick County. 8:15am to 5:30 pm starting at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis.
• Maryland Health Care Commission meets. 1pm in conference room 100, Maryland Health Care Commission, 4160 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore.
• Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee meets. 1-3pm in the Department of Health to and Mental Hygiene Lobby Level Conference Room (L-3), 201 W. Preston Street, Baltimore. 
• Census Bureau releases 2011 single-year estimates from the American Community Survey. This is the main source of detailed demographic data for Maryland.The Census Bureau will release 3 and 5 year estimates later in the year, which will allow us to study smaller geographies and populations.

Friday, September 21st 

• Bureau of Labor Statistics releases state-level employment figures for August. Maryland's unemployment rate rose slightly in July, to 7 percent.