Wednesday, September 27, 2023
(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary August job estimates show a decrease of 8,000 jobs for a total of 2,766,800 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector decreased by 1,900 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 6,100 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted August 2023 unemployment rate was 2.9 percent, which was 0.3 percentage points higher than the revised July 2023 rate of 2.6 percent. The Washington Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in August 2022, which was 0.4 percentage points higher than the current unemployment rate of 2.9 percent.
Over-the-Month Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for August 2023 was 2,833,900, of which 2,751,900 were employed and 82,100 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 3,129,400, of which 3,058,100 were employed and 71,300 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 3,525,000, of which 3,431,800 were employed and 93,200 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 2.6 percent. For the month the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 0.3 percentage points while the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring increased by 0.2 percentage points from the previous month’s rate.
The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for August 2023 was 2,833,900, of which 2,751,900 were employed and 82,100 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 3,129,400, of which 3,058,100 were employed and 71,300 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 3,525,000, of which 3,431,800 were employed and 93,200 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 2.6 percent. For the month the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 0.3 percentage points while the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring increased by 0.2 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 79,500, while the number of employed increased by 88,300, and the number of unemployed decreased by 8,700. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 79,100, while the number of employed increased by 102,200, and the number of unemployed decreased by 23,100. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 83,500, while the number of employed increased by 102,500 and the number of unemployed decreased by 19,000. For the year, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 0.4 percentage points, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area decreased by 0.7 percentage points while the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring decreased by 0.8 percentage points from a year ago.
Metropolitan Division’s Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased over the month by 8,000 jobs. The private sector decreased by 1,900 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 6,100 jobs over the month. Five private sectors had over the month job gains. Job gains were manufacturing (300 jobs); mining, logging & construction (1,000 jobs); information (1,200 jobs); financial activities (500 jobs); and educational and health services (2,700 jobs). The private sector losses were registered in trade, transportation, and utilities (-600 jobs); professional and business services (-1,800 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-2,700 jobs) and other services (-2,500 jobs). Government overall decreased 6,100 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased 100 jobs, state government decreased by 10,700 jobs and the local government increased by 4,700 jobs.
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 44,200 jobs. The private sector increased by 41,000 jobs, while the public sector increased by 3,200 jobs. Job increases were registered in mining, logging & construction (5,100 jobs); information (2,100 jobs); educational and health services (20,100 jobs); leisure and hospitality (10,400 jobs) and other services (6,500 jobs). The private sector losses were registered in manufacturing (-1,000 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,600 jobs); financial activities (-500 jobs); and professional and business services (-100 jobs). Government overall increased by 3,200 jobs. Federal government shows a decrease of 4,900 jobs. State government shows an increase of 9,700 jobs and the local government decreased 1,600 jobs.
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 44,200 jobs. The private sector increased by 41,000 jobs, while the public sector increased by 3,200 jobs. Job increases were registered in mining, logging & construction (5,100 jobs); information (2,100 jobs); educational and health services (20,100 jobs); leisure and hospitality (10,400 jobs) and other services (6,500 jobs). The private sector losses were registered in manufacturing (-1,000 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,600 jobs); financial activities (-500 jobs); and professional and business services (-100 jobs). Government overall increased by 3,200 jobs. Federal government shows a decrease of 4,900 jobs. State government shows an increase of 9,700 jobs and the local government decreased 1,600 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 2022 annual benchmark revisions.
Attachments
