(Washington, DC)  Summer Spencer, Director of the Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced today that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted October 2007 unemployment rate was 5.8 percent, up 0.1 percent from the September 2007 rate.  The October 2007 rate was 0.3 percent lower than the rate in October 2006.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in October 2007 was 4.7 percent; unchanged from the September 2007 rate and 0.3 percent higher than the October 2006, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate. 

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2007 was 5.6 percent; down 0.3 percent from the rate in September 2007 and equal to the rate in October 2006.

Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 400 to 317,300.  A total of 299,600 residents were employed and 17,700 were unemployed in October 2007.  0.3 percent decrease in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate. An increase by 700 in the number of employed residents along with a 1,200 decrease in the number of unemployed residents resulted in the 0.3 percent decrease in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

From October 2006 to October 2007, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 100 as the number of employed residents rose by 100 and the number of unemployed residents was unchanged.  The District’s October 2007 unemployment rate was equal to the rate in October 2006.

The October 2007 national unemployment rate of 4.4 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was 0.1 percent lower than the rate in September 2007 and 0.3 percent higher than the rate in October 2006. 

District of Columbia Job Growth 

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 2,300 in October 2007.  The private sector gained 2,700 jobs while the public sector lost 400 jobs.   In the private sector, educational and health services increased by 3,100 jobs, trade, transportation and utilities gained 200 jobs, and professional and business services added 100 jobs. Meanwhile, financial activities lost 300 jobs, natural resources and construction and information shed 200 jobs each.  Manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and other services were unchanged over the month.  In the public sector, the Federal Government lost 800 jobs; the District Government added 300 jobs; and transportation gained 100 jobs.

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 10,300 jobs.  The private sector added 8,300 jobs and the public sector gained 2,000 jobs.  The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 5,500 jobs), leisure and hospitality and other services (up by 900 jobs each), financial activities (up by 700 jobs), information (up by 400 jobs), and trade, transportation and utilities (up by 200 jobs).  Manufacturing, natural resources and construction, and educational and health services lost 100 jobs each.  In the public sector, the District Government gained 1,500 jobs, the Federal Government added 300 jobs, and transportation gained 200 jobs.