(Washington, DC) Susan O. Gilbert, Interim Director of the Department of Employment Services (DOES), announced today that the Washington Metropolitan Division’s not seasonally adjusted December 2006 unemployment rate was 2.9 percent, down 0.1 percent from the November 2006 rate. The December 2006 rate was equal to the rate in December 2005.
Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate
The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 800 in December 2006 as employment increased by 900 and the number unemployed decreased by 1,900. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 2.9 percent in December, was down 0.1 percent from the rate in November 2006.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 58,400. With 2,300 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 60,800. The metropolitan division’s December 2006 unemployment rate of 2.9 percent was unchanged from the rate in December 2005.
Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in December 2006 by 6,400. The private sector increased by 6,100 jobs and the public sector gained 300 jobs. Within the private sector, gains were registered in trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 6,200 jobs), professional and business services (up by 1,600 jobs), other services (up by 700 jobs), information (up by 500 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 100 jobs). Private sector losses were noted in leisure and hospitality (down by 1,200 jobs), educational and health services (down by 1,100 jobs), and natural resources, mining and construction (down by 700 jobs). Financial activities were unchanged over the month. In the public sector, local government gained 500 jobs; the federal government added 400 jobs; while state government lost 600 jobs.
During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 58,600 jobs. The private sector gained 60,400 jobs and the public sector lost 1,800 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 26,400 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 9,300 jobs), educational and health services (up by 8,600 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 5,300 jobs), other services (up by 5,100 jobs), financial activities (up by 2,800 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 1,600 jobs), manufacturing (up by 1,000 jobs), and information (up by 300 jobs). In government, local government gained 700 jobs while the federal government lost 1,900 jobs and state government shed 600 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 was unchanged in December 2006 as employment rose by 5,000 and the number unemployed decreased by 5,000. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.5 percent in December, was down 0.2 percent from the rate in November 2006.
Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 80,100. With 2,100 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 82,100. The suburban ring’s December 2006 unemployment rate of 2.5 percent was equal to the rate in December 2005.
For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force increased by 300 in December 2006. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 3,900, and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 3,600. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 2.9 percent in December 2006 was down 0.1 percent from the rate in November 2006.
Compared to December 2005, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 83,500. Employment increased by 79,900 and unemployment rose by 3,600. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s December 2006 unemployment rate was up 0.1 percent from the December 2005 rate of 2.8 percent.
Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth
December 2006 wage and salary employment estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area will be released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on January 30, 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).