Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 5.0 percent

(WASHINGTON, DC) – The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary June job estimates show an increase of 4,300 jobs for a total of 1,160,500 jobs in the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division. The private sector increased by 5,300 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 1,000 jobs.  The Washington, DC- MD Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted June 2025 unemployment rate was 5.0 percent, which was 0.5 percentage points higher than the revised May 2025 unemployment rate of 4.5 percent.  The Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in June 2024, which was 0.6 percentage points lower than the current unemployment rate of 5.0 percent.

Over-the-Month Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
 
The total civilian labor force in the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division for June 2025 was 1,027,400, of which 976,200 were employed and 51,200 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate was 5.0 percent.  The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,141,200, of which 3,026,100 were employed and 115,100 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 3.7 percent.  In the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the Washington, Metropolitan DC-MD Division, the Arlington- Alexandria-Reston, VA-WV Metropolitan Division, and the Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, Maryland Metropolitan Division, the civilian labor force was 3,564,900, of which 3,423,700, were employed and 141,200 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 4.0 percent.  For the month the unemployment rate for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased by 0.5 percentage points, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area increased by 0.4 percentage points and the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring increased by 0.3 percentage points.

Over-the-Year Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data

The Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division’s civilian labor force increased over the year by 5,200, while the number of employed decreased by 700, and the number of unemployed increased by 6,000.  The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring decreased over the year by 30,200, while the number of employed decreased by 51,900, and the number of unemployed increased by 21,600.  Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force decreased by 24,200, while the number of employed decreased by 48,300 and the number of unemployed increased by 24,000.  For the year, the unemployment rate for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased by 0.6 percentage points, the unemployment rate of the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area increased by 0.7 percentage points and the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring increased by 0.8 percentage points.

Metropolitan Division’s Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 4,300 jobs. The private sector increased by 5,300 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 1,000 jobs over the month. The private sector had five gains over the month. Job gains were registered in Mining Logging & Construction (600 jobs); Financial Activities (500 jobs); Professional and Business Services (2,700 jobs); Leisure and Hospitality (2,500 jobs) and Other Services (1,100 jobs). The private sector had two losses over the month. Job losses were registered in Trade Transportation & Utilities (-200 jobs) and Private Education and Health Services decreased (-1,900). The private sector had two sectors that remained the same.  Those sectors were Manufacturing and Information.  The Government overall decreased by 1,000 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased by 400 jobs while the state government decreased by 900 jobs and local government increased by 300 jobs. 
                                                                                  
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington,DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased by 3,700 jobs. The private sector increased by 9,100 jobs.  The public sector decreased by 5,400 jobs. Job increases were registered in; Mining, Logging and Construction (4,700 jobs); Private Education and Health Services (1,700 jobs); Leisure and Hospitality (4,900 jobs) and Other Services (1,000 jobs). Job decreases were registered in Trade Transportation & Utilities (-1,000 jobs) Information (-600 jobs); Financial Activities (-200 jobs) and Professional and Business Services (-1,400 jobs). Government overall decreased 5,400 and the federal government decreased 7,300 jobs and the state government increased 2,400 jobs and the local government decreased 500 jobs.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Explanations

Estimated Labor Force and Employment for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division includes: The District of Columbia, and MD (Charles County, MD and Prince George’s County, MD).

The estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area include Principal Cities: Washington, DC; Arlington, VA; Alexandria, VA; Frederick, MD; Gaithersburg, MD; Bethesda, MD; Rockville, MD; Reston, VA; McLean, VA; North Bethesda, MD; Arlington-Alexandria-Reston, VA-WV Metropolitan Division Arlington County, VA; Clarke County, VA; Culpeper County, VA; Fairfax County, VA; Fauquier County, VA; Loudoun County, VA; Prince William County, VA; Rappahannock County, VA; Spotsylvania County, VA; Stafford County, VA; Warren County, VA; Alexandria city, VA; Fairfax city, VA; Falls Church city, VA; Fredericksburg city, VA; Manassas city, VA; Manassas Park city, VA; Jefferson County, WV; Frederick-Gaithersburg-Bethesda, MD Metropolitan Division Frederick County, Montgomery County; Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division District of Columbia, DC; Charles County, MD; Prince George's County, MD.

Data reflects the 2024 annual benchmark revisions.