(Washington, DC) - The Department of Employment Services (DOES) today announced that the Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted June 2008 unemployment rate increased 0.3 percent, to 4.0 percent.  This resulted in a 0.7 percent increase from June 2007.

Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment 

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 16,000 in June 2008 as employment rose by 7,400 and those who were unemployed increased by 8,600.

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 19,600. With 18,800 more unemployed division residents, the civilian labor force rose by 38,400.

Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 10,600.  The private sector increased by 14,400 jobs while the public sector decreased by 3,800 jobs.  Within the private sector, increases were registered in leisure and hospitality (up by 5,700 jobs), professional and business services (up by 5,600 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (up by 2,500 jobs each), natural resources and construction (up by 2,000 jobs), other services (up by 1,700 jobs), financial activities (up by 600 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 400 jobs) and information (up by 300 jobs).  Losses were noted in educational and health services (down by 4,400 jobs).  In the public sector, the federal government gained 3,100 jobs and local government gained 1,800 jobs while the state government lost 8,700 jobs.

During the last twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained a total of 23,700 jobs.  The private sector added 15,400 jobs and the public sector gained 8,300 jobs.  The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 10,500 jobs), educational and health services (up by 8,500 jobs), other services (up by 5,300 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 2,000 jobs), and trade, transportation and utilities (up by 500 jobs).  Losses were registered in natural resources and construction (down by 4,900 jobs), financial activities (down by 3,100 jobs), information (down by 2,400 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 1,000 jobs).  In the public sector, local government gained 6,300 jobs; the federal government increased by 1,300 jobs; and state government added 700 jobs.

Statistical Area Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment

The civilian labor force in the suburban ring of communities surrounding the District of Columbia increased by 20,200 in June 2008 as employment rose by 9,800 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 10,300.  The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.5 percent in June, was up 0.3 percent from the rate in May 2008.

Over the year, there was an increase of 21,700 employed residents in the suburban ring. With 18,300 unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 39,900.  The suburban ring’s June 2008 unemployment rate was up 0.6 percent from June 2007.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force decreased by 23,300 in June 2008.  The number of employed residents rose by 12,100 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 11,100.  The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate for June 2008 was 3.9, up 0.4 percent from the rate in May 2008.

Compared to June 2007, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 45,500. Employment increased by 24,500 and unemployment rate rose by 21,100.  The Washington Metropolitan area’s June 2008 unemployment rate was up 0.7 percent from the June 2007 rate of 3.2 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

June 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 July 30, 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).