Read more about the article Maryland Leads in Federal Job Losses
Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues
Maryland Leads in Federal Job Losses

Maryland continues to bear the brunt of federal workforce cuts, having lost thousands of jobs since January. With federal employment a cornerstone of Maryland’s economy, local effects are expected to deepen as additional reductions take effect this fall. In a recent Maryland Matters article, Maryland lost 2,500 federal jobs in August, marking the second straight month the state has led the nation in federal workforce cuts. Since January, Maryland has lost 15,100 federal jobs, nearly…

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October 2, 2025
Read more about the article Prescription Drug Affordability Board Discusses Policies to Address High-Cost Medications
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources / Labor
Prescription Drug Affordability Board Discusses Policies to Address High-Cost Medications

Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board is discussing recommendations to address the rising costs of high-priced medications. The discussion highlights both the drivers of affordability challenges and potential solutions, including upper payment limits that could ease strain on residents and county budgets alike. Maryland was the first state in the nation to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in 2019. Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) convened to review policy recommendations and discuss strategies for making…

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October 2, 2025
Read more about the article Apprenticeships Gain Ground as Key Pathway in Higher Education
Business Affairs / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Higher Education / Human Resources / Labor
Apprenticeships Gain Ground as Key Pathway in Higher Education

Apprenticeships are increasingly seen as a vital complement to traditional higher education. They can be a powerful tool to strengthen local workforce pipelines and expand opportunity. As higher education evolves, leaders are rethinking how best to prepare students for the workforce. A recent Baltimore Sun commentary highlighted the growing importance of apprenticeships as part of the future. State Senator Cory McCray’s new memoir, The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life, illustrates the value of this approach.…

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October 1, 2025
Read more about the article Community Colleges Streamline Pathways to Skilled Jobs
Business Affairs / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Higher Education / Human Resources / Labor
Community Colleges Streamline Pathways to Skilled Jobs

As employers struggle to fill critical jobs, community colleges are responding with flexible training that connects students to careers more quickly.  In a recent article from Governing, a growing shortage of skilled workers is slowing economic growth nationwide, with 71 percent of employers saying they cannot find the talent they need. Community colleges are stepping up to address this challenge by offering faster, more flexible training models that better match the realities of today’s students…

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September 24, 2025
Read more about the article MD Launches New Rural Program to Support Recovery Workforce
Health and Human Services / Labor / News You Can Use
MD Launches New Rural Program to Support Recovery Workforce

Rural communities across Maryland face unique challenges in the fight against substance use, often with fewer resources and limited access to care. A new state initiative aims to close that gap by investing in the peer recovery workforce and expanding support where it’s needed most. In a recent press release, Governor Wes Moore has announced the launch of Rural Advancement for Maryland Peers (RAMP), a $1.6 million grant initiative to strengthen substance use recovery support…

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September 3, 2025
Read more about the article Pew Report: Rising Poverty and Longer Work Lives Among Older Adults
County News / Health and Human Services / Labor
Pew Report: Rising Poverty and Longer Work Lives Among Older Adults

As the population ages, an increasing number of older residents are working well past retirement age, often out of financial necessity rather than choice. A recent analysis from The Pew Charitable Trusts shows that the number of US households ages 65 and older grew by nearly 33 percent from 2013 to 2023, compared with just 6 percent growth in the overall population. This dramatic increase has implications for local governments, particularly as more older residents…

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August 27, 2025
Read more about the article New Faces, New Forces: Leveraging Untapped Talent at #MACoCon
Human Resources / Labor / Summer Conference
New Faces, New Forces: Leveraging Untapped Talent at #MACoCon

In today’s economic environment, county governments are pivotal in driving local economic growth and workforce development. In particular, finding the right candidate for a specific role takes an even more dynamic strategy to reach untapped talent. Successfully navigating the complexities of intentionally leveraging certain areas of the workforce can foster a resilient local economy and increase stability and independence for residents. The below 2025 MACo Summer Conference session hosts an expert panel to share best…

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August 4, 2025
Read more about the article Up in Smoke? Balancing Public Safety and Employee Rights in the Cannabis Era 
Cannabis / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor / Summer Conference
Up in Smoke? Balancing Public Safety and Employee Rights in the Cannabis Era 

As legal cannabis use becomes more common, local governments are caught navigating evolving workplace rights and public safety responsibilities. With no clear test for impairment and increasing legislative pressure, counties must find a path forward that protects both their workforce and their communities. Since Maryland voters approved adult-use cannabis legalization in 2022 and retail sales launched in 2023, the implications for employers, especially public sector employers, have rapidly evolved. While cannabis use is now legal…

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August 4, 2025
Read more about the article Missouri Repeals Paid Sick Leave Law
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources / Labor
Missouri Repeals Paid Sick Leave Law

In a reversal of a voter-approved measure, Missouri Governor signed legislation repealing the state’s earned paid sick leave law. The new law, effective August 28, 2025, rolls back provisions approved under Proposition A in 2024. As covered in a Littler article, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe recently signed legislation undoing two voter-approved labor policies: a statewide paid sick leave mandate and automatic inflation-based minimum wage increases. Local governments were exempt from the original paid sick leave…

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July 23, 2025
Read more about the article MD Unemployment Insurance Fund Faces Challenges
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor
MD Unemployment Insurance Fund Faces Challenges

Maryland’s unemployment insurance trust fund is currently stable. However, the system could fall below federal solvency standards within the next two years. As reported in a Maryland Matters article, Maryland Labor Secretary Portia Wu warned lawmakers that the state’s $2 billion unemployment insurance trust fund is under increasing pressure at a recent Joint Committee on Unemployment Oversight hearing. While it currently meets federal solvency standards, that could change if unemployment rises or large-scale layoffs occur.…

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July 16, 2025
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