(Washington, DC) – The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary January job estimates show an decrease of 39,900 jobs for a total of 2,714,800 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector decreased by 34,900 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 5,000 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted January 2023 unemployment rate was 3.2 percent, which was 0.6 percentage points higher than the revised December 2022 rate of 2.6 percent. The Washington Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in January 2022, which was 0.3 percentage points higher than the current unemployment rate of 3.2 percent.
Over-the-Month Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for January 2023 was 2,757,600, of which 2,670,400 were employed and 87,200 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 3.2 percent. The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,046,900, of which 2,962,300 were employed and 84,600 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 2.8 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 3,439,900, of which 3,336,000 were employed and 103,900 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 3.0 percent. For the month, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 0.6 percentage points, while the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring increased by 0.5 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 59,900, while the number of employed increased by 67,100, and the number of unemployed decreased by 7,200. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 54,000, while the number of employed increased by 61,900, and the number of unemployed decreased by 8,000. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 66,300, while the number of employed increased by 78,900 and the number of unemployed decreased by 12,600. For the year, the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division and Suburban Ring decreased by 0.3 percentage points while the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area decreased by 0.5 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 39,900 jobs. The private sector decreased by 34,900 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 5,000 jobs over-the-month. There were no Gains during January. The private sector losses were registered in manufacturing (-1,500 jobs); mining, logging & construction (-4,100 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-11,300 jobs); information (-1,500 jobs); financial activities (-2,200 jobs); professional and business services (-3,000 jobs) and education and health services (-3,600 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-7,500 jobs) and other services (-200 jobs). Government overall decreased 5,000 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased 1,000 jobs, state government decreased by 2,300 jobs and the local government decreased by 1,700 jobs.
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 65,200 jobs. The private sector increased by 54,800 jobs, while the public sector increased by 10,400 jobs. Job increases were registered in manufacturing (700 jobs); mining, logging & construction (4,300 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (2,800 jobs); professional and business services (9,900 jobs); educational and health services (11,800 jobs); leisure and hospitality (22,700 jobs) and other services (4,100 jobs). The private sector loss was registered in information (-600 jobs) and financial activities (-900 jobs). Government overall increased by 10,400 jobs. Federal government shows a decrease of 5,500 jobs, State government shows an increase of 7,300 jobs and the local government increased 8,600 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.
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