(Washington, DC)  Gregg Irish, Director of the Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced today that the Washington Metropolitan Division’s not seasonally adjusted November 2006 unemployment rate was 3.0 percent, up 0.1 percent from the October 2006 rate. The November 2006 rate was 0.2 percent lower than the rate in November 2005.

Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 1,700 in November 2006 as employment decreased by 1,200 and the number unemployed increased by 3,000. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.0 percent in November, was up 0.1 percent from the rate in October 2006.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 63,800. With 2,000 fewer unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 61,700. The metropolitan division’s November 2006 unemployment rate of 3.0 percent was 0.2 percent lower than the rate in November 2005.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in November 2006 by 12,600. The private sector increased by 9,500 jobs and the public sector gained 3,100 jobs. Within the private sector, gains were registered in trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 7,500 jobs), educational and health services (up by 2,000 jobs), financial activities and professional and business services (up by 700 jobs each), other services (up by 600 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 100 jobs). Private sector losses were noted in natural resources, mining and construction (down by 1,100 jobs), leisure and hospitality (down by 700 jobs), and information (down by 300 jobs). In the public sector, local government gained 2,000 jobs; state government added 700 jobs; and the federal government gained 400 jobs.

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 55,800 jobs. The private sector gained 57,100 jobs and the public sector lost 1,300 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 26,300 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 8,600 jobs), educational and health services (up by 7,600 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 4,800 jobs), other services (up by 4,300 jobs), financial activities (up by 3,200 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 1,400 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 900 jobs). Information was unchanged over the year. In government, local government gained 1,600 jobs while the federal government lost 1,900 jobs and state government shed 1,000 jobs.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate

The civilian labor force in the suburban ring of communities surrounding the District of Columbia increased by 2,600 in November 2006 as employment fell by 1,000 and the number unemployed increased by 3,600. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.7 percent in November, was up 0.1 percent from the rate in October 2006.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 83,000. With 1,600 fewer unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 81,300. The suburban ring’s November 2006 unemployment rate of 2.7 percent was 0.1 percent lower than to the rate in November 2005.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force increased by 1,100 in November 2006. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area fell by 2,900, and the number of unemployed residents increased by 4,000. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.0 percent in November 2006 was up 0.1 percent from the rate in October 2006.

Compared to November 2005, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 82,900. Employment increased by 84,700 and unemployment decreased by 1,800. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s November 2006 unemployment rate was down 0.1 percent from the November 2005 rate of 3.1 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

November 2006 wage and salary employment estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area will be released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on January 3, 2007. 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).