(Washington, DC)  Summer Spencer, Director of the Department of Employment Services (DOES), announced today that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted February 2008 unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, down 0.3 percent from the January 2008 rate.  The February 2008 rate was 0.2 percent higher than the rate in February 2007.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in February 2008 was 4.8 percent; down 0.1 percent from the January 2008 rate and 0.3 percent higher than the February 2007, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2008 was 5.8 percent; down 0.9 percent from the rate in January 2008 and 0.1 percent higher than the rate in February 2007.

Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 3,400 to 329,200.  A total of 310,000 residents were employed and 19,200 were unemployed in February 2008.  A 6,000 increase in the number of employed residents along with a 2,600 decrease in the number of unemployed residents resulted in a 0.9 percent drop in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

From February 2007 to February 2008, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 5,700 as the number of employed residents rose by 4,900 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 800.  The District’s February 2008 unemployment rate was 0.1 percent higher than the rate in February 2007.

The February 2008 national unemployment rate of 5.2 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was 0.2 percent lower than the rate in January 2008 and 0.3 percent higher than the rate in February 2007. 

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 7,100 in February 2008.  The private sector gained 7,700 jobs while the public sector shed 600 jobs.   In the private sector, educational and health services increased by 4,700 jobs, professional and business services gained 1,500 jobs, leisure and hospitality added 1,000 jobs, other services gained 500 jobs, and natural resources and construction and information added 100 jobs each.  Trade, transportation and utilities and financial activities lost 100 jobs each. Meanwhile, manufacturing was unchanged over the month.  In the public sector, the District Government gained 100 jobs; the Federal Government lost 600 jobs; and transportation shed 100 jobs.

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 7,800 jobs.  The private sector added 6,000 jobs and the public sector gained 1,800 jobs.  The private sector growth occurred in educational and health services (up by 3,000 jobs), professional and business services (up by 2,600 jobs), other services (up by 2,000 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 700 jobs), natural resources and construction (up by 200 jobs), and trade, transportation and utilities (up by 100 jobs).  Losses were noted in financial activities (down by 1,300 jobs), information (down by 1,200 jobs), and manufacturing and (down by 100 jobs).  In the public sector, the District Government gained 1,300 jobs, the Federal Government increased by 400 jobs, and transportation added 100 jobs.

Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 2,800 in February 2008 as employment rose by 7,300 and the number unemployed decreased by 4,500.  The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.5 percent in February, was down 0.2 percent from the rate in January 2008.  

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 19,800.   With 7,400 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 27,300.  The metropolitan division’s February 2008 unemployment rate was up 0.3 percent from the rate in February 2007.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in February 2008 by 9,000.  The private sector increased by 4,700 jobs and the public sector gained 4,300 jobs.  Within the private sector, gains were registered in educational and health services (up by 6,200 jobs), professional and business services (up by 4,000 jobs), financial activities and leisure and hospitality (up by 700 jobs each), other services (up by 500 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 200 jobs).  Losses were noted in trade, transportation, and utilities (down by 5,400 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (down by 1,900 jobs), and information (down by 300 jobs).   In the public sector, state government gained 4,400 jobs; local government added 700 jobs; and the federal government shed 800 jobs. 

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 26,800 jobs.  The private sector added 18,500 jobs and the public sector gained 8,300 jobs.  Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 12,900 jobs), educational and health services (up by 7,700 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 4,400 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 2,500 jobs), and other services (up by 1,600 jobs).  Losses were registered in natural resources, mining and construction (down by 4,400 jobs), financial activities (down by 2,900 jobs), information (down by 2,500 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 800 jobs).  In the public sector, local government added 7,100 jobs and the federal government and state governments gained 600 jobs each.

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 2,100 in February 2008 as employment rose by 500 and the number unemployed decreased by 2,600.  The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.0 percent in February, was down 0.1 percent from the rate in January 2008.  

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring increased by 15,700.   With 5,700 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 21,400.  The suburban ring’s February 2008 unemployment rate was up 0.2 percent from the rate in February 2007.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force increased by 1,300 in February 2008.  The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 6,500 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 5,200.  The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.3 percent in February 2008 was down 0.2 percent from the rate in January 2008.

Compared to February 2007, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 27,100.  Employment increased by 20,600 and unemployment rose by 6,500.  The Washington Metropolitan Area’s February 2008 unemployment rate was up 0.2 percent from the February 2007 rate of 3.1 percent. 

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

February 2008 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 April 2, 2008.  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).