Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 3.6 Percent

(Washington, DC) – The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary August job estimates show a decrease of 3,700 jobs for a total of 2,713,800 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector decreased by 6,700 jobs, while the public sector increased by 3,000 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted August 2022 unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, which was 0.2 percentage points higher than the revised July 2022 rate of 3.4 percent.  The Washington Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in August 2021, which was 1.6 percentage points higher than the current unemployment rate of 3.6 percent.

 

 

The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for August 2022 was 2,689,300, of which 2,593,000 were employed and 96,400 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate was 3.6 percent.  The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,002,100, of which 2,898,600 were employed and 103,300 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 3.4 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 3,382,700, of which 3,259,200 were employed and 123,400 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 3.6 percent.  For the month, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 0.2 percentage points 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.

 

 

The Washington Metropolitan Division’s civilian labor force increased over the year by 5,300, while the number of employed increased by 48,000, and the number of unemployed decreased by 42,600.  The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 10,300, while the number of employed increased by 58,600, and the number of unemployed decreased by 48,400.  Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 7,600, while the number of employed increased by 64,000 and the number of unemployed decreased by 56,400.  For the year, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 1.6 percentage points while the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring decreased by 1.7 percentage points from a year ago.

 

 

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased over the month by 3,700 jobs. The private sector decreased by 6,700 jobs, while the public sector increased by 3,000 jobs over-the-month. Four private sectors had over the month job gains. Job gains were registered in trade, transportation, and utilities (1,200 jobs); information (700 jobs); financial activities (200 jobs) and other services (400 jobs).  The private sector loss was registered in manufacturing (-200 jobs); mining, logging & construction (-700 jobs); professional and business services (-4,100 jobs); education and health services (-1,100 jobs); leisure and hospitality (-3,100 jobs).  Government overall increased by 3,000 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased 2,100 jobs, state government decreased by 12,600 jobs and the local government increased by 17,700 jobs.

 

During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 61,000 jobs. The private sector increased by 60,800 jobs, while the public sector increased by 200 jobs. Job increases were registered in manufacturing (300 jobs); mining, logging & construction (1,600 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (10,700 jobs); information (2,800 jobs) professional and business services (8,700 jobs); educational and health services (11,500 jobs); leisure and hospitality services (27,200 jobs) and other services (3,300 jobs). The private sector loss was registered in financial activities (-5,300 jobs).  Government overall increased by 200 jobs.  Federal government shows a decrease of 8,000 jobs, State government increased 3,300 jobs and the local government increased 4,900 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 2021 annual benchmark revisions.
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