(Washington, DC)  The Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced today that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted January 2007 unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, down 0.1 percent from the December 2006 rate and 0.1 percent higher than the rate in January 2006.  During the same period, the Washington Metropolitan Division’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, rose by 0.4 percent to 3.4 percent; and the rate increased over-the-year by 0.2 percent.

Regarding the decrease in the District’s unemployment rate, Interim Director Gilbert explained, “Although the decrease in unemployment was slight, it is a positive sign for the District which had an increase in the local labor force.  There were 2,300 more city residents employed in January.”  The yearly data reported a 3,900 increase in the number of employed residents which was offset by a 900 increase in the number of residents who were unemployed.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in January 2007 was 4.6 percent; up 0.1 percent from the December 2006 rate and 0.1 percent lower than the January 2006, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January 2007 was 6.3 percent; up 0.1 percent from the December 2006 rate and 0.6 percent higher than the rate in January 2006.
 
Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 1,900 to 315,900.  A total of 296,100 residents were employed and 19,700 were unemployed in January 2007.  There was a 2,000 decrease in the number of employed residents along with no change in the number of unemployed residents during the month, which resulted in the 0.1 percent increase in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.
 
From January 2006 to January 2007, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 5,800 as the number of employed residents increased by 3,800 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 1,900.  The District’s January 2007 unemployment rate was 0.6 percent higher than the rate in January 2006.

The January 2007 national unemployment rate of 5.0 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was up 0.7 percent from the rate in December 2006 and 0.1 percent lower than the rate in January 2006.

Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rates

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 12,200 in January 2007 as employment decreased by 20,700 and the number unemployed increased by 8,500.  The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.4 percent in January, was up 0.4 percent from the rate in December 2006.  

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 45,000.   With 6,100 more unemployed division residents, the division’s civilian labor force rose by 51,000.  The metropolitan division’s January 2007 unemployment rate was up 0.2 from the rate in January 2006.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs decreased by 12,800 in January 2007.  The private sector declined by 10,600 jobs and the public sector lost 2,200 jobs.   In the private sector, educational and health services decreased by 4,000 jobs, professional and business services lost 2,100 jobs, leisure and hospitality declined by 1,700 jobs, trade, transportation and utilities decreased by 900 jobs, other services declined by 700 jobs,  financial activities lost 500 jobs, natural resources and construction shed 400 jobs, and  information decreased by 300 jobs.  Manufacturing was unchanged.  In the public sector, the District Government lost 1,200 jobs and the Federal Government shed 1,000 jobs while transportation was unchanged. 

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 8,500 jobs.  The private sector added 9,800 jobs while the public sector lost 1,300 jobs.  The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 6,500 jobs), other services (up by 1,100 jobs), educational and health services (up by 1,000 jobs), natural resources and construction and information (up by 500 jobs each), leisure and hospitality (up by 400 jobs), and trade, transportation and utilities (up by 100 jobs).  Losses were noted in manufacturing (down by 200 jobs) and financial activities (down by 100 jobs).  In the public sector, transportation gained 400 jobs while the federal government lost 900 jobs and District government shed 800 jobs.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased over the month in January 2007 by 41,700.  The private sector decreased by 36,200 jobs and the public sector lost 5,500 jobs.  Within the private sector, losses were registered in trade, transportation, and utilities (down by 13,600 jobs), professional and business services (down by 6,600 jobs), leisure and hospitality (down by 6,000 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (down by 3,600 jobs), educational and health services (down by 2,800 jobs), financial activities (down by 1,100 jobs), information and other services (down by 1,000 jobs each), and manufacturing (down by 500 jobs).  In the public sector, state government lost 2,700 jobs; local government shed 1,700 jobs; and the federal government lost 1,100 jobs.   

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 42,300 jobs.  The private sector gained 33,100 jobs and the public sector added 9,200 jobs.  Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 18,400 jobs), educational and health services (up by 7,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 3,900 jobs), other services (up by 2,800 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction and information (up by 600 jobs each), and financial activities (up by 100 jobs).  Losses were noted in manufacturing (down by 500 jobs) and trade, transportation, and utilities (down by 200 jobs).  In government, local government gained 5,100 jobs and state government added 5,000 jobs while the federal government lost 900 jobs.  The following chart is a summation of this data.

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 decreased by 11,500 in January 2007 as employment fell by 23,900 and the number unemployed increased by 12,400.  The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.0 percent in December, was up 0.5 percent from the rate in December 2006.  

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 53,800.   With 6,400 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 60,100.  The suburban ring’s January 2007 unemployment rate was up 0.2 percent from the rate in January 2006.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force decreased by 13,400 in January 2007.  The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area declined by 25,900, while the number of unemployed residents increased by 12,400.  The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.4 percent in January 2007 was up 0.5 percent from the rate in December 2006.

Compared to January 2006, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 65,900.  Employment increased by 57,600 and unemployment rose by 8,300.  The Washington Metropolitan Area’s January 2007 unemployment rate was up 0.2 percent from the January 2006 rate of 3.2 percent. 

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

January 2007 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 March 21, 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).