(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary February job estimates show an increase of 6,600 jobs for a total of 2,757,800 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector decreased by 1,700 jobs, while the public sector increased by 8,300 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted February 2024 unemployment rate was 3.1 percent, which was 0.2 percentage points higher from the revised January 2024 unemployment rate of 2.9 percent. The Washington Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 2.9 percent in February 2023, which was 0.2 percentage points lower than the current unemployment rate of 3.1 percent.
Over-the-Month Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for February 2024 was 2,804,200, of which 2,716,900 were employed and 87,300 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 3.1 percent. The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,078,600, of which 2,994,700 were employed and 83,900 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 2.7 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 3,485,700, of which 3,380,100 were employed and 105,600 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 3.0 percent. For the month the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division, 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 30,000, while the number of employed increased by 23,000, and the number of unemployed increased by 7,000. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 18,900, while the number of employed increased by 10,500, and the number of unemployed increased by 8,300. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 31,700, while the number of employed increased by 21,500 and the number of unemployed increased by 10,200. For the year, the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring increased by 0.2 percentage points from the previous month’s rate.
Metropolitan Division’s Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 6,600 jobs. The private sector decreased by 1,700 jobs, while the public sector increased by 8,300 jobs over the month. Five private sectors had over the month gains. Job gains were registered in: Manufacturing (200): Information (600): Professional and Business Services (300): Education and Health Services (1,700): Leisure and Hospitality (1,300). The private sector losses were registered in: Mining, Logging & Construction (-1,300 jobs); Trade, Transportation & Utilities (-3,500 jobs); financial activities (-700 jobs): and Other Services (-300 jobs). Government overall increased 8,300 jobs over the month. The federal government increased by 200 jobs, state government increased by 500 jobs and the local government increased by 3,100 jobs.
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 21,900 jobs. The private sector increased 4,200 jobs, while the public sector increased 17,700 jobs. Job increases were registered in Manufacturing (600 jobs) Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (2,900 jobs); Educational and Health Services (9,200 jobs); Leisure and Hospitality (3,200 jobs) and Other Services (2,200 jobs). The private sector losses were registered in Mining, Logging and Construction (-1,300): Information (-2,200 jobs); Financial Activities (-3,400 jobs); Professional and Business Services (-7,000 jobs). Government overall increased by 17,700. Federal government shows an increase of 4,100 jobs. State government shows an increase of 7,200 jobs and the local government increased by 6,400 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 2023 annual benchmark revisions.
