(Washington, DC) The Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced today that the Washington Metropolitan Division’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March 2007 was 3.0 percent, down 0.2 percent from February 2007. Over the year, the March unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percent.
Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate
The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 17,200 workers in March 2007; as the number of employed residents increased by 21,300 workers, the number of unemployed residents decreased by 4,000. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.0 percent in March, was down 0.2 percent from the rate in February 2007.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 49,100. With 900 more unemployed division residents, the division’s civilian labor force rose by 50,000. The metropolitan division’s March 2007 unemployment rate was down 0.1 percent from the rate in March 2006.
Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 19,100. The private sector increased by 17,100 jobs and the public sector gained 2,000 jobs. Within the private sector, gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 5,200 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 4,000 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 2,300 jobs), educational and health services (up by 1,800 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 1,500 jobs), other services (up by 900 jobs), financial activities (up by 800 jobs), information (up by 500 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 100 jobs). In the public sector, state government gained 1,400 jobs; local government added 700 jobs; and the federal government lost 100 jobs.
During the past twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 38,300 jobs. The private sector gained 33,600 jobs and the public sector added 4,700 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 18,600 jobs), educational and health services (up by 5,000 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 4,000 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 3,000 jobs), other services (up by 2,100 jobs), financial activities (up by 800 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 300 jobs), and information (up by 200 jobs). A loss was registered in manufacturing (down by 400 jobs). The local government gained 3,600 jobs, state government added 2,100 jobs, and the federal government lost 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 19,900 in March 2007 as employment rose by 25,100 and the number unemployed decreased by 5,100. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.7 percent in March, was down 0.2 percent from the rate in February 2007.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 50,100. With 1,800 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 51,900. The suburban ring’s March 2007 unemployment rate was unchanged from the rate in March 2006.
For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force increased by 20,700 in March 2007. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 27,100 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 6,300. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.0 percent in March 2007 was down 0.2 percent from the rate in February 2007.
Compared to March 2006, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 59,500. Employment increased by 58,600 and unemployment rose by 900. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s March 2007 unemployment rate was unchanged from the March 2006 rate of 3.0 percent.
Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth
March 2007 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 May 2, 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).