(Washington, DC)  Today, the Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced that the Washington Metropolitan Division’s not seasonally adjusted June 2007 unemployment rate was 3.3 percent, up 0.4 percent from the May 2007 rate.  The June 2007 rate was 0.1 percent lower than the rate in June 2006.

Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 16,200 in June 2007 as employment rose by 7,500 and the number unemployed increased by 8,700.  The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.3 percent in June, was 0.4 percent higher than the rate in May 2007.  

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 26,400.   With 1,500 fewer unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 24,800.  The metropolitan division’s June 2007 unemployment rate was down 0.1 percent from the rate in June 2006.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in June 2007 by 14,900.  The private sector increased by 18,900 jobs while the public sector lost 4,000 jobs.  Within the private sector, gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 9,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 6,100 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 2,900 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 2,300 jobs), other services (up by 1,100 jobs), financial activities (up by 1,000 jobs), and manufacturing and information (up by 400 jobs each).  Educational and health services lost 4,700 jobs over the month.  In the public sector, the federal government added 2,600 jobs; local government gained 1,400 jobs; and state government lost 8,000 jobs.   

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 39,000 jobs.  The private sector added 33,300 jobs and the public sector gained 5,700 jobs.  Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 18,200 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 5,400 jobs), educational and health services (up by 3,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 3,000 jobs), other services (up by 2,000 jobs), financial activities (up by 1,700 jobs), and natural resources, mining and construction (up by 100 jobs). Losses was registered in information (down by 300 jobs) and manufacturing (down by 200 jobs).  In the public sector, state government added 3,500 jobs, local government gained 2,700 jobs, and the federal government lost 500 jobs.

The civilian labor force in the suburban ring of communities surrounding the District of Columbia increased by 22,400 in June 2007 as employment rose by 12,300 and the number unemployed increased by 10,300.  The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.0 percent in June, was up 0.4 percent from the rate in May 2007.  

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 27,800.   With 900 fewer unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 27,000.  The suburban ring’s June 2007 unemployment rate was unchanged from the rate in June 2006.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force increased by 23,200 in June 2007.  The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 11,300 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 12,000.  The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.3 percent in June 2007 was up 0.4 percent from the rate in May 2007.

Compared to June 2006, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 25,400.  Employment increased by 27,100 and unemployment fell by 1,700.  The Washington Metropolitan Area’s June 2007 unemployment rate was down 0.1 percent from the June 2006 rate of 3.4 percent. 

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

June 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 August 1, 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).