(Washington, DC) – The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary February job estimates show an increase of 9,100 jobs for a total of 2,724,900 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector increased by 3,800 jobs, while the public sector increased by 5,300 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted February 2023 unemployment rate was 3.0 percent, which was 0.2 percentage points lower than the revised January 2023 rate of 3.2 percent. The Washington Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 3.2 percent in February 2022, which was 0.2 percentage points higher than the current unemployment rate of 3.0 percent.
Over-the-Month Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for February 2023 was 2,778,900, of which 2,696,700 were employed and 82,200 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 3.0 percent. The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,076,900, of which 2,995,600 were employed and 81,300 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 2.6 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 3,469,100, of which 3,368,600 were employed and 100,500 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 2.9 percent. For the month, the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division and Suburban Ring decreased by 0.2 percentage points, while the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical decreased 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 57,500, while the number of employed increased by 62,100, and the number of unemployed decreased by 4,600. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 63,200, while the number of employed increased by 69,500, and the number of unemployed decreased by 6,400. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 68,300, while the number of employed increased by 77,000 and the number of unemployed decreased by 8,800. For the year, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 0.2 percentage points while the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and Suburban Ring decreased by 0.3 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 9,100 jobs. The private sector increased by 3,800 jobs, while the public sector increased by 5,300 jobs over the month. Six private sectors had over the month job gains. Job gains were registered in mining, logging & construction (900 jobs); financial activities (1,100 jobs); professional and business services (3,100 jobs); educational and health services (4,100 jobs); leisure and hospitality (200 jobs) and other services (400 jobs). The private sector losses were registered in manufacturing (-1,200 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,600 jobs) and information (-200 jobs). Government overall increased 5,300 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased 1,400 jobs, state government increased by 3,200 jobs and the local government increased by 3,500 jobs.
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 47,200 jobs. The private sector increased by 40,600 jobs, while the public sector increased by 6,600 jobs. Job increases were registered in mining, logging & construction (3,1 00 jobs); professional and business services (6,600 jobs); educational and health services (11,100 jobs); leisure and hospitality (19,700 jobs) and other services (3,200 jobs). The private sector loss was registered in manufacturing (-400 jobs) trade, transportation, and utilities (-800 jobs); information (-1,700 jobs), and financial activities (-200 jobs). Government overall increased by 6,600 jobs. Federal government shows a decrease of 6,900 jobs, State government shows an increase of 5,700 jobs and the local government increased 7,800 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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