Thursday, November 30, 2023
(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary October job estimates show an increase of 16,200 jobs for a total of 2,800,200 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector increased by 12,000 jobs, while the public sector increased by 4,200 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted October 2023 unemployment rate was 2.9 percent, which was unchanged from the revised September 2023 unemployment rate of 2.9 percent. The Washington Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 3.0 percent in October 2022, which was 0.1 percentage point 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 October 2023 was 2,824,800, of which 2,742,700 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 3,111,500, of which 3,037,000 were employed and 74,500 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 2.4 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 3,512,500, of which 3,417,100 were employed and 95,400 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 2.7 percent. For the month the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division was unchanged while the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring increased by 0.1 percentage point 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 70,200, while the number of employed increased by 70,400, and the number of unemployed decreased by 100. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 59,800, while the number of employed increased by 70,200, and the number of unemployed decreased by 10,500. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 73,800, while the number of employed increased by 80,000 and the number of unemployed decreased by 6,200. 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.
Metropolitan Division’s Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 16,200 jobs. The private sector increased by12,000 jobs, while the public sector increased by 4,200 jobs over the month. Six private sectors had over the month job gains. Job gains were manufacturing (300 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (5,800 jobs); professional and business services (2, 400 jobs); and educational and health services (5,600 jobs); leisure and hospitality (500 jobs) and other services (700 jobs). The private sector losses were mining, logging & construction (-500 jobs); information (-800 jobs); and financial activities (-2,000 jobs). Government overall increased 4,200 jobs over the month. The federal government increased 200 jobs, state government increased by 1,700 jobs and the local government increased by 2,300 jobs.
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 52,800 jobs. The private sector increased by 40,900 jobs, while the public sector increased by 11,900 jobs. Job increases were registered in mining, logging & construction (700 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (3,400 jobs); professional and business services (5,200 jobs); educational and health services (15,600 jobs); leisure and hospitality (12,000 jobs) and other services (7,600 jobs). The private sector losses were registered in manufacturing (-1,100 jobs); information (-800 jobs); financial activities (-1,700 jobs). Government overall increased by 11,900. Federal government shows a decrease of 5,400 jobs. State government shows an increase of 10,300 jobs and the local government increased 7,000 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.
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