(Washington, DC) - The DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced today that the Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted November 2008 unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percent, to 4.5 percent. This resulted in a 1.4 percent increase from November 2007.

Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment 

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 7,400 in November 2008 as employment declined by 14,200, while those who were unemployed increased by 6,800.

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 10,000. With 35,400 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 25,400. 

Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 7,000. The private sector increased by 5,000 jobs while the public sector increased by 2,000 jobs. Within the private sector, gains were registered in trade, transportation and utilities (up by 6,000 jobs), educational and health services (up by 1,400 jobs), and professional and business services (up by 200 jobs). Losses were noted in natural resources and construction (down by 1,000 jobs), leisure and hospitality (down by 700 jobs), information and manufacturing (down by 300 jobs each), and other services and financial activities (down by 100 jobs each).In the public sector, local government gained 900 jobs; the state government gained 700 jobs; while the federal government added 400 jobs.

During the last twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained a total of 27,000 jobs. The private sector added 14,300 jobs and the public sector gained 12,700 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 10,400 jobs), educational and health services (up by 8,400 jobs), other services (up by 7,800 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (up by 800 jobs). Losses were registered in natural resources and construction (down by 5,100 jobs), information (down by 2,800 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (down by 2,400 jobs), financial activities (down by 2,000 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 800 jobs).

In the public sector, local government gained 8,000 jobs; federal government added 3,000 jobs; and the state government increased by 1,700 jobs.

Statistical Area Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment

The civilian labor force in the suburban ring of communities surrounding the District of Columbia decreased by 10,900 in November 2008.  The number of employed residents decreased by 14,900 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 3,900. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.9 percent in November 2008, was 0.2 percent higher than the rate in October 2008.

Over the year, there was a decrease of 12,800 employed residents in the suburban ring. With 34,100 unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 21,400. The suburban ring’s November 2008 unemployment rate was up 1.3 percent from November 2007.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of employed residents decreased by 18,800. With 7,200 more unemployed metropolitan area residents, the civilian labor force in the metropolitan area decreased by 11,600 in November 2008. The unemployment rate in the metropolitan area, at 4.4 percent in November 2008, was 0.3 percent higher than the rate in October 2008.

Compared to November 2007, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force rose by 22,900. Employment decreased by 20,300 and the number of unemployed rose by 43,100.  The Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s November 2008 unemployment rate was up 1.4 percent from the November 2007 rate of 3.0 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth
 
November 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 January 4, 2009.  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).