Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 2.8 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 15,500 jobs for a total of 2,794,800 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector decreased by 7,500 jobs, while the public sector increased by 23,000 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted September 2023 unemployment rate was 2.8 percent, which was 0.1 percentage points lower than the revised August 2023 rate of 2.9 percent.  The Washington Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 2.9 percent in August 2022, which was 0.1 percentage point higher than the current unemployment rate of 2.8 percent.

Over-the-Month Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
 
The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for September 2023 was 2,826,300, of which 2,745,800 were employed and 80,500 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate was 2.8 percent.  The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,111,700, of which 3,040,700 were employed and 71,000 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 2.3 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 3,510,800, of which 3,418,600 were employed and 92,200 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 2.6 percent.  For the month the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division and the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area decreased by 0.1 percentage point while the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring was unchanged 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 88,100, while the number of employed increased by 87,100, and the number of unemployed increased by 1,000.  The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 81,800, while the number of employed increased by 92,900, and the number of unemployed decreased by 11,100.  Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 92,300, while the number of employed increased by 98,100 and the number of unemployed decreased by 5,800.  For the year, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 0.1 percentage point, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area decreased by 0.3 percentage points while the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring decreased by 0.4 percentage points from a year ago.

 

 

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 15,500 jobs. The private sector decreased by 7,500 jobs, while the public sector increased by 23,000 jobs over the month. Two private sectors had over the month job gains.  Job gains were financial activities (200 jobs) and educational and health services (2,500 jobs). The private sector losses were mining, logging & construction (-3,200 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,500 jobs); information (-1,100 jobs); professional and business services (-200 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-4,100 jobs) and other services (-100 jobs). One private sector manufacturing remained the same. Government overall increased 23,000 jobs over the month. The federal government increased 1,100 jobs, state government increased by 12,300 jobs and the local government increased by 9,600 jobs.
                                                                                                                    
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 70,100 jobs. The private sector increased by 46,400 jobs, while the public sector increased by 23,700 jobs. Job increases were registered in mining, logging & construction (1,800 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (400 jobs); information (600 jobs); financial activities (100 jobs); professional and business services (6,700 jobs); educational and health services (16,600 jobs); leisure and hospitality (13,400 jobs) and other services (7,800 jobs).  The private sector losses were registered in manufacturing (-1,000 jobs). Government overall increased by 23,700 jobs.  Federal government shows a decrease of 4,500 jobs. State government shows an increase of 15,900 jobs and the local government increased 12,300 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).

 

Data reflects the 2022 annual benchmark revisions.