(Washington, DC)  Gregg Irish, Director of the Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced today that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted November 2006 unemployment rate was 6.0 percent, up 0.1 percent from the October 2006 rate.  The November 2006 rate was equal to the rate in November 2005.

“Although the unemployment rate rose in November, it is anticipated that the 2006 rate will be the lowest yearly unemployment rate since 2000.  Over the year, there have been an increase of 2,400 employed residents and an increase of 200 unemployed, resulting in a 2,500 rise in the District’s labor force,” said Director Irish. 

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in November 2006 was 4.5 percent; up 0.1 percent from the October 2006 rate and 0.5 percent lower than the November 2005, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

District of Columbia’s Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment 

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November 2006 was 5.7 percent; up 0.1 percent from the October 2006 rate and 0.1 percent lower than the rate in November 2005.
 
Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 1,500 to 293,100.  A total of 276,300 residents were employed and 16,800 were unemployed in November 2006.  A 1,900 decrease in the number of employed residents along with a 400 rise in the number of unemployed residents resulted in the 0.1 percent increase in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.
 
From November 2005 to November 2006, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 1,600 as the number of employed residents increased by 1,700 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 200.  The District’s November 2006 unemployment rate was 0.1 percent lower than the rate in November 2005.

The November 2006 national unemployment rate of 4.3 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was up 0.2 percent from the rate in October 2006 and 0.5 percent lower than the rate in November 2005.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 5,600 in November 2006.  The private sector gained 4,400 jobs and the public sector added 1,200 jobs.   In the private sector, educational and health services increased by 2,400 jobs, professional and business services gained 1,300 jobs, other services added 600 jobs, and trade, transportation and utilities gained 500 jobs.  Leisure and hospitality declined by 300 jobs and natural resources and construction lost 100 jobs.  Manufacturing, information, and financial activities were unchanged.  In the public sector, the Federal Government and District Government gained 600 jobs each while transportation was unchanged. 

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 10,400 jobs.  The private sector added 11,500 jobs while the public sector lost 1,100 jobs.  The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 4,300 jobs), educational and health services (up by 1,800 jobs), information (up by 1,600 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 1,300 jobs), financial activities (up by 1,000 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (up by 700 jobs), natural resources and construction (up by 600 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 200 jobs).  Other services were unchanged over the year.  In the public sector, transportation gained 500 jobs while the Federal Government and District Government shed 800 jobs each.