(Washington, DC) – The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary September job estimates show an increase of 7,500 jobs for a total of 1,152,000 jobs in the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division. The private sector increased by 5,200 jobs, while the public sector increased by 2,300 jobs. The Washington, DC- MD Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted September 2025 unemployment rate was 5.6 percent, which was unchanged from revised August 2025 unemployment rate of 5.6 percent. The Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in September 2024, which was 1.6 percentage points lower than the current unemployment rate of 5.6 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 September 2025 was 1,011,800, of which 954,800 were employed and 56,900 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 5.6 percent. The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,102,200, of which 2,987,100 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 3,515,300, of which 3,371,900, were employed and 143,400 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 4.1 percent. For the month the unemployment rate for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division was unchanged, while the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring decreased by 0.2 percentage points each.
Over-the-Year Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
The Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division’s civilian labor force decreased over the year by 3,200, while the number of employed decreased by 19,400, and the number of unemployed increased by 16,000. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring decreased over the year by 40,700, while the number of employed decreased by 70,400, and the number of unemployed increased by 29,700. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force decreased by 41,500, while the number of employed decreased by 77,900 and the number of unemployed increased by 36,400. For the year, the unemployment rate for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased by 1.6 percentage points, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area increased by 1.1 percentage points, while the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring increased by 1.0 percentage points.
Metropolitan Division’s Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased by 7,500 jobs over the month. The private sector increased by 5,200 jobs, while the public sector increased by 2,300 jobs over the month. The private sector had four gains over the month. Job gains were registered in Mining Logging & Construction (500 jobs); Information (300 jobs); Professional and Business Services (1,000 jobs); and Private Education and Health Services (5,500 jobs). The private sector had four losses over the month. The losses were registered in Trade Transportation & Utilities (-700 jobs); Financial Activities (-200 jobs); and Leisure and Hospitality (-800 jobs) and Other Services (-400 jobs). The Government overall increased by 2,300 jobs over the month. The federal government increased by 100 jobs while the state government increased by 1,100 jobs and local government increased by 1,1,00 jobs.
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division decreased by 1,800 jobs. The private sector increased by 8,000 jobs. The public sector increased by 9,800 jobs. Job increases were registered in Manufacturing (100 jobs); Mining, Logging & Construction (6,200jobs); Private Education and Health Services (1,900 jobs); Leisure and Hospitality (5,200 jobs) and Other Services (700 jobs). Job decreases were registered in: Trade Transportation & Utilities (-2,100); Information (-300 jobs); Financial Activities (-800 jobs); and Professional and Business Services (-2,900 jobs). Government overall decreased 9,800 jobs. The federal government decreased 10,800 jobs while the state government increased 1,000 jobs and the local government remained the same.
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.
