(Washington, D.C.) - The Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced that the Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted July 2008 unemployment rate increased 0.2 percent, to 4.2 percent.  This resulted in a 0.9 percent increase from July 2007.

Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment 

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 37,800 in July 2008 as employment rose by 30,300 and those who were unemployed increased by 7,500.

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 23,500. With 25,600 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 49,100. 

Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased over the month by 14,200. The private sector decreased by 6,100 jobs while the public sector decreased by 8,100 jobs. Within the private sector, gains were registered in leisure and hospitality (up by 500 jobs), other services (up by 300 jobs), information (up by 200 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 100 jobs). Losses were noted in educational and health services (down by 5,200 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (down by 1,100 jobs), natural resources and construction (down by 500 jobs), and financial activities, professional and business services (down by 200 jobs each). In the public sector, while the state government gained 5,300 jobs; federal government gained 1,700 jobs; and local government lost 15,100 jobs.

During the last twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained a total of 31,300 jobs. The private sector added 17,800 jobs and the public sector gained 13,500 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 11,500 jobs), educational and health services (up by 8,200 jobs), other services (up by 6,500 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 1,900 jobs), and trade, transportation and utilities (up by 200 jobs). Losses were registered in natural resources and construction (down by 4,900 jobs), financial activities (down by 2,700 jobs), information (down by 2,100 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 800 jobs).  In the public sector, local government gained 7,900 jobs; the state government added 3,300; and the federal government increased by 2,300 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 38,200 in July 2008 as employment rose by 31,300 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 6,700. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.7 percent in July, was up 0.2 percent from the rate in June 2008.

Over the year, there was an increase of 24,800 employed residents in the suburban ring. With 24,500 unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 49,400. The suburban ring’s July 2008 unemployment rate was up 0.8 percent from July 2007.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force increased by 46,100 in July 2008. The number of employed residents rose by 37,000 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 9,000. The Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s unemployment rate for July 2008 was 4.1, up 0.2 percent from the rate in June 2008.

Compared to July 2007, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force rose by 57,000. Employment increased by 28,200 and the number of unemployment rose by 28,800.  The Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area‘s July 2008 unemployment rate was up 0.9 percent from the July 2007 rate of 3.2 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

July 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 August 27, 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).