Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 3.0 percent

(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary September job estimates show an increase of 16,100 jobs for a total of 2,726,800 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector increased by 1,600 jobs, while the public sector increased by 14,500 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted September 2022 unemployment rate was 3.0 percent, which was 0.6 percentage points lower than the revised August 2022 rate of 3.6 percent.  The Washington Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in September 2021, which was 1.3 percentage points higher than the current unemployment rate of 3.0 percent.

 

The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for September 2022 was 2,674,500, of which 2,594,700 were employed and 79,800 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate was 3.0 percent.  The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 2,983,200, of which 2,897,400 were employed and 85,800 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 2.9 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 3,359,700, of which 3,256,700 were employed and 103,000 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 3.1 percent.  For the month, the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring decreased by 0.6 percentage points from the previous month’s rate.
 
Over-the-Year Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
 
The Washington Metropolitan Division’s civilian labor force increased over the year by 12,000, while the number of employed increased by 46,100, and the number of unemployed decreased by 34,100.  The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 22,200, while the number of employed increased by 59,300, and the number of unemployed decreased by 37,000.  Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 15,700, while the number of employed increased by 60,600 and the number of unemployed decreased by 44,900.  For the year, the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division and the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area decreased by 1.3 percentage points while the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring decreased by 1.2 percentage points from a year ago.
 
Metropolitan Division’s Job Growth
 
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 16,100 jobs. The private sector increased by 1,600 jobs, while the public sector increased by 14,500 jobs over-the-month. Five private sectors had over the month job gains. Job gains were registered in manufacturing (100 jobs); mining, logging & construction (2,400 jobs); information (200 jobs); professional and business services (1,600 jobs) and education and health services (4,300 jobs). The private sector loss was registered in trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,100 jobs); financial activities (-2,000 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-2,500 jobs). and other services       (-1,400 jobs). Government overall increased by 14,500 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased 1,100 jobs, state government increased by 5,000 jobs and the local government increased by 10,600 jobs.

 

During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 71,600 jobs. The private sector increased by 73,200 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 1,600 jobs. Job increases were registered in manufacturing (700 jobs); mining, logging & construction (4,800 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (13,100 jobs); information (3,000 jobs) professional and business services 16,000 jobs); educational and health services (10,900 jobs); leisure and hospitality services (29,300 jobs) and other services (2,600 jobs). The private sector loss was registered in financial activities (-7,200 jobs).  Government overall decreased by 1,600 jobs.  Federal government shows a decrease of 10,200 jobs, State government increased 2,300 jobs and the local government increased 6,300 jobs.
 
Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Explanations
 
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).
 
Data reflects the 2021 annual benchmark revisions.
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