(Washington, DC)  Summer Spencer, Director of the Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced today that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted November 2007 unemployment rate was 5.7 percent, down 0.1 percent from the October 2007 rate.  The November 2007 rate was 0.4 percent lower than the rate in November 2006.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in November 2007 was 4.7 percent; unchanged from the October 2007 rate and 0.2 percent higher than the November 2006, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November 2007 was 5.8 percent; up 0.2 percent from the rate in October 2007 and equal to the rate in November 2006.

Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 2,300 to 319,600.  A total of 301,100 residents were employed and 18,500 were unemployed in November 2007.  A 1,500 increase in the number of employed residents along with an 800 increase in the number of unemployed residents resulted in the 0.2 percent increase in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

From November 2006 to November 2007, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 3,400 as the number of employed residents rose by 3,100 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 200.  The District’s November 2007 unemployment rate was equal to the rate in November 2006.

The November 2007 national unemployment rate of 4.5 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was 0.1 percent higher than the rate in October 2007 and 0.2 percent higher than the rate in November 2006.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 3,700 in November 2007.  The private sector gained 3,800 jobs while the public sector lost 100 jobs.   In the private sector, educational and health services increased by 2,600 jobs, other services added 400 jobs, trade, transportation and utilities and financial activities gained 300 jobs each, and information, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality added 100 jobs each. Meanwhile, natural resources and construction shed 100 jobs.  Manufacturing was unchanged over the month.  In the public sector, the Federal Government gained 400 jobs; the District Government lost 500 jobs; and transportation was unchanged.

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 9,700 jobs.  The private sector added 8,700 jobs and the public sector gained 1,000 jobs.  The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 5,400 jobs), other services (up by 1,000 jobs), financial activities and leisure and hospitality (up by 900 jobs each), information and educational and health services (up by 300 jobs each), and trade, transportation and utilities (up by 100 jobs).  Manufacturing and natural resources and construction lost 100 jobs each.  In the public sector, the District Government gained 600 jobs and the Federal Government and transportation added 200 jobs each.