Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 2.9 Percent

(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary January job estimates show a decrease of 38,600 jobs for a total of 2,755,400 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector decreased by 35,100 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 3,500 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted January 2024 unemployment rate was 2.9 percent, which was 0.2 percentage points higher from the revised December 2023 unemployment rate of 2.7 percent.  The Washington Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 3.0 percent in January 2023, which was 0.1 percentage point higher than the current unemployment rate of 2.9 percent.

 

The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for January 2024 was 2,797,900, of which 2,716,400 were employed and 81,500 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate was 2.9 percent.  The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,073,600, of which 2,997,100 were employed and 76,600 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 2.5 percent.  In the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the Washington Metropolitan Division and the Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, Maryland Metropolitan Division, the civilian labor force was 3,478,000, of which 3,380,500 were employed and 97,600 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 2.8 percent.  For the month the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 0.2 percentage points, while unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring increased by 0.3 percentage points from the previous month’s rate.

 

The Washington Metropolitan Division’s civilian labor force increased over the year by 42,800, while the number of employed increased by 43,200, and the number of unemployed decreased by 400.  The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 32,200, while the number of employed increased by 32,900, and the number of unemployed decreased by 500.  Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 44,900, while the number of employed increased by 43,800 and the number of unemployed increased by 1,300.  For the year, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 0.1 percentage point, while unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring were unchanged from the previous month’s rate.

 

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased over the month by 38,600 jobs. The private sector decreased by 35,100 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 3,500 jobs over the month. There were no private sector gains over the month. The private sector losses were manufacturing (-300 jobs); mining, logging & construction (-2,500 jobs); trade, transportation & utilities (-13,300 jobs); information (-1,300 jobs); financial activities (-1,900 jobs); professional and business services (-3,200 jobs); education and health services: (-1,300 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-10,200 jobs) and other services (-1,100 jobs). Government overall decreased by -3,500 jobs over the month. The federal government increased by 700 jobs, state government decreased by -2,000 jobs and the local government decreased by -2,200 jobs.
                                                                                                                    
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 35,500 jobs. The private sector increased 15,800 jobs, while the public sector increased 19,700 jobs. Job increases were registered in manufacturing (700 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (900 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (2,300 jobs); educational and health services (11,000 jobs); leisure and hospitality (5,300 jobs) and other services (3,200 jobs).  The private sector losses were registered in information (-2,500 jobs); financial activities (- 2,300 jobs); professional and business services (2,800 jobs). Government overall increased by 19,700. Federal government shows an increase of 4,600 jobs. State government shows an increase of 9,800 jobs and the local government increased by 5,300 jobs.

 

Estimated Labor Force and Employment for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division includes: The District of Columbia, Virginia Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park and the Virginia Counties of Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudon, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren, Rappahannock and Culpeper; the Maryland Counties of Calvert, Charles, and Prince Georges; and the West Virginia County of Jefferson.

 

The estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area will be the summation of the estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division (contained in this release) and the Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division (to be released by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation).