(Washington, DC)  Today, the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) released the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted February 2007 unemployment rate, which decreased 0.3 percent to 5.8 percent.  The February 2007 rate was 0.1 percent lower than the February 2006 rate.

“The drop in the unemployment rate is especially good news, since it is again accompanied by an increase in the District’s labor force, which added 1,900 more employed residents and had 1,000 fewer unemployed,” said Interim Director Susan Gilbert.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in February 2007 was 4.5 percent, down 0.1 percent from the January 2007 rate; and 0.3 percent lower than the February 2006 seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2007 was 5.8 percent; down 0.5 percent from the January 2007 rate and 0.2 percent lower than the rate in February 2006.
 
Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 2,400 to 318,300.  A total of 299,800 residents were employed and 18,500 were unemployed in February 2007.  A 3,700 increase in the number of employed residents along with a 1,200 decrease in the number of unemployed residents resulted in the 0.5 percent decrease in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.
 
From February 2006 to February 2007, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 5,600 as the number of employed residents increased by 5,800 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 100.  The District’s February 2007 unemployment rate was 0.2 percent lower than the rate in February 2006.

The February 2007 national unemployment rate of 4.9 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was down 0.1 percent from the rate in January 2007 and 0.2 percent lower than the rate in February 2006.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 7,000 in February 2007.  The private sector increased by 7,300 jobs while the public sector lost 300 jobs.   In the private sector, educational and health services increased by 3,800 jobs, professional and business services gained 1,900 jobs, leisure and hospitality added 1,000 jobs, other services increased by 400 jobs, and financial activities gained 200 jobs.  Manufacturing, natural resources and construction, trade, transportation and utilities, and information were all unchanged.  In the public sector, the Federal Government shed 400 jobs, the District Government added 100 jobs, and transportation was unchanged. 

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 8,300 jobs.  The private sector added 9,500 jobs while the public sector lost 1,200 jobs.  The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 6,600 jobs), other services (up by 1,000 jobs), educational and health services (up by 900 jobs), information (up by 500 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 400 jobs), and natural resources and construction and trade, transportation and utilities (up by 200 jobs each).  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 and District Government lost 800 jobs each.

Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 4,000 in February 2007 as employment decreased by 400 and the number unemployed decreased by 3,700.  The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.2 percent in February, was down 0.2 percent from the rate in January 2007.  

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 38,800.   With 1,700 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 40,700.  The metropolitan division’s February 2007 unemployment rate was unchanged from the rate in February 2006.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in February 2007 by 11,100.  The private sector increased by 8,900 jobs and the public sector gained 2,200 jobs.  Within the private sector, gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 5,100 jobs), educational and health services (up by 4,000 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 1,400 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction, information, and financial activities (up by 500 jobs each), and other services (up by 400 jobs).  Manufacturing was unchanged over the month while trade, transportation, and utilities declined by 3,500 jobs.  In the public sector, state government gained 1,900 jobs; local government added 1,600 jobs; and the federal government lost 1,300 jobs.   

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 41,200 jobs.  The private sector gained 34,700 jobs and the public sector added 6,500 jobs.  Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 17,900 jobs), educational and health services (up by 5,000 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 4,100 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 3,800 jobs), other services (up by 2,200 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 1,000 jobs), information (up by 600 jobs), and financial activities (up by 500 jobs).  A loss was registered in manufacturing (down by 400 jobs).  In government, local government gained 4,400 jobs and state government added 3,400 jobs while the federal government lost 1,300 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 decreased by 12,700 in February 2007 as employment fell by 8,800 and the number unemployed decreased by 4,100.  The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.9 percent in February, was down 0.1 percent from the rate in January 2007.  

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 39,400.   With 3,200 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 42,800.  The suburban ring’s February 2007 unemployment rate was up 0.1 percent from the rate in February 2006.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force decreased by 10,300 in February 2007.  The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area declined by 5,100 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 5,300.  The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.2 percent in February 2007 was down 0.2 percent from the rate in January 2007.

Compared to February 2006, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 48,400.  Employment increased by 45,200 and unemployment rose by 3,100.  The Washington Metropolitan Area’s February 2007 unemployment rate was up 0.1 percent from the February 2006 rate of 3.1 percent. 

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

February 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 April 4, 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).