(Washington, DC) -  The Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced that the Washington Metropolitan Division’s not seasonally adjusted March 2008 unemployment rate was up 0.1 percent, to 3.6 percent in March 2008.  This resulted in a 0.6 percent increase from March of 2007.

Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 18,100 in March 2008 as employment rose by 15,000 and those who were unemployed increased by 3,100.

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 19,600.   With 16,100 more unemployed division residents, the division’s civilian labor force rose by 35,700. 

Job Growth
 
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 16,700.  The private sector increased by 12,700 jobs and the public sector gained 4,000 jobs.  Within the private sector, gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 4,000 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 3,700 jobs), educational and health services (up by 2,100 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 1,700 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 1,000 jobs), and other services (up by 800 jobs).  Losses were noted in information (down by 400 jobs) and financial activities (down by 200 jobs).   Manufacturing was unchanged over the month.  In the public sector, state government gained 2,100 jobs; local government added 1,300 jobs; and the federal government gained 600 jobs. 

During the past twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 23,900 jobs.  The private sector added 13,500 jobs and the public sector gained 10,400 jobs.  Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 12,300 jobs), educational and health services (up by 7,300 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 3,500 jobs), other services (up by 2,200 jobs), and trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 1,000 jobs).  Losses were registered in natural resources, mining and construction (down by 5,800 jobs), financial activities (down by 3,600 jobs), information (down by 2,700 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 700 jobs).  In the public sector, local government added 7,400 jobs, the federal government gained 1,700 jobs, and state government added 1,300 jobs.

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 15,200 in March 2008 as employment rose by 15,100 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 100.  The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.0 percent in March, was unchanged from the rate in February 2008.  

Over the year, there was an increase of 13,100 employed residents in the suburban ring.   With 12,600 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 25,900.  The suburban ring’s March 2008 unemployment rate was up 0.4 percent from March 2007.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force increased by 19,200 in March 2008.  The number of employed residents rose by 16,800 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 2,300.  The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate for March is 3.4 percent, up 0.1 percent from the rate in February 2008.

Compared to March 2007, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 34,900.  Employment increased by 18,100 and unemployment rose by 16,700.  The Washington Metropolitan Area’s March 2008 unemployment rate was up 0.5 percent from the March 2007 rate of 2.9 percent. 

Statistical Area Job Growth

The March 2008 wage and salary employment estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area will be released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 29, 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).