Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 3.8 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 11,400 jobs for a total of  2,784,000 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector decreased by 6,700 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 4,700 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted August 2024 unemployment rate was 3.8 percent, which was 0.2 percentage points higher from the revised July 2024 unemployment rate of 3.6 percent. The Washington Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 3.1 percent in August 2023, which was 0.7 percentage points lower than the current unemployment rate of 3.8 percent.

 

The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for August 2024 was 2,816,800, of which 2,709,800 were employed and 107,000 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 3.8 percent. The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,109,800, of which 3,009,000 were employed and 100,700 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 3.2 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 3,515,800, of which 3,387,000 were employed and 128,700 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 3.7 percent. For the month the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division and the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Areas increased by 0.2 percentage points, while the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring increased by 0.1 percentage point.

Over-the-Year Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data

 

The Washington Metropolitan Division’s civilian labor force increased over the year by 4,900, while the number of employed decreased by 15,800, and the number of unemployed increased by 20,700. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 7,800, while the number of employed decreased by 14,100, and the number of unemployed increased by 21,700. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 14,600, while the number of employed decreased by 13,900 and the number of unemployed increased by 28,300. For the year, the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division and the Suburban Ring increased by 0.7 percentage points while the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area increased by 0.8 percentage points.

 

 

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased over the month by 11,400 jobs. The private sector decreased by 6,700 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 4,700 jobs over the month. Two private sectors have over the month gains. Job gains were registered in: Mining, Logging & Construction (2,100 jobs) and Education and Health Services (3,600 jobs).  The private sector losses were registered in Manufacturing (-300 jobs); Trade, Transportation & Utilities (-900 jobs); Information (-100 jobs); Financial Activities (-700 jobs); Professional and Business Services (-8,200 jobs); Leisure and Hospitality (-1,900 jobs) and Other Services (-300 jobs). Government overall decreased 4,700 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased 2,100 jobs, state government decreased 10,500 jobs and the local government increased 7,900 jobs.
                                                                                                                  
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 12,400 jobs. The private sector increased 11,200 jobs, while the public sector increased 1,200 jobs. Job increases were registered in Manufacturing (1,400 jobs); Mining, Logging and Construction (4,200 jobs); Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (2,000 jobs); Educational and Health Services (6,700 jobs); Leisure and Hospitality (1,000 jobs) and Other Services (6,400 jobs). The private sector losses were registered in Information (-100 jobs); Financial Activities (-4,800 jobs) and Professional and Business Services (5,600 jobs). Government overall increased by 1,200. Federal government shows an increase of 2,200 jobs. State government shows an increase of 2,800 jobs and the local government decreased by 3,800 jobs.

 

 

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).