(Washington, DC) - Summer Spencer, Director of the Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted May 2008 unemployment rate rose slightly to 6.6 percent, up 0.6 percent from the April 2008 rate.  The local rise in the unemployment rate is reflective of the faltering national economy. 

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in May 2008 was 5.5 percent; up 0.5 percent from the April 2008 rate and 1.0 percent higher than the May 2007, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2008 was 6.5 percent; up 1.2 percent from the rate in April 2008 and 1.1 percent higher than the rate in May 2007.
 
Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 100 to 329,500.   A total of 308,000 residents were employed and 21,600 were unemployed in May 2008.  A 4,000 decrease in the number of employed residents along with a 4,000 increase in the number of unemployed residents resulted in a 1.2 percent increase in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.
 
From May 2007 to May 2008, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 6,300 as the number of employed residents rose by 2,200 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 4,200.  The District’s May 2008 unemployment rate was 1.1 percent higher than the rate in May 2007.

The May 2008 national unemployment rate of 5.2 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was 0.4 percent higher than the rate in April 2008 and 0.9 percent higher than the rate in May 2007.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs decreased by 100 in May 2008.  The private sector lost 700 jobs while the public sector increased by 600 jobs.  In the private sector, professional and business services added 1,400 jobs, leisure and hospitality increased by 500 jobs, natural resources and construction and other services added 300 jobs each. Educational and health services lost 2,900 jobs while financial activities lost 300 jobs.  Meanwhile, manufacturing, trade, transportation and utilities, and information sectors were unchanged over the month.  In the public sector, the Federal Government gained 700 jobs; District Government lost 100 jobs, while transportation was unchanged.

In the last twelve months, the District gained a total of 11,700 jobs. The private sector added 8,700 jobs and the public sector gained 3,000 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in educational and health services (up by 5,500 jobs), professional and business services (up by 2,100 jobs), other services (up by 2,000 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 800 jobs), natural resources and construction (up by 100 jobs).  Losses were noted in financial activities (down 1,000 jobs), information (down by 600 jobs each), and manufacturing and trade, transportation and utilities (down by 100 jobs each).  In the public sector, the Federal Government increased by 1,400 jobs; District Government gained 1,300 jobs, and transportation added 300 jobs.