(Washington, DC) - The Department of Employment Services (DOES), announced that the Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted January 2009 unemployment rate increased by 0.8 percent, to 5.7 percent. This resulted in a 2.2 percent increase from January 2008.

Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment 

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 7,500 in January 2009 as employment declined by 28,000 while those who were unemployed increased by 20,500.

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 45,300. With 53,300 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 8,000. 

Job Growth

As the economy continue to shrink, total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased over the month by 45,200. The private sector decreased by 31,400 jobs while the public sector decreased by 13,800 jobs. Within the private sector, trade, transportation and utilities lost 11,800 jobs, leisure and hospitality lost 4,000 jobs, natural resources and construction lost 3,900 jobs, professional & business services lost 3,800 jobs, educational & health services lost 2,500 jobs, financial activities lost 2,100 jobs, other services lost 1,500 jobs, information lost 1,400 jobs and manufacturing lost 400 jobs. In the public sector, state government lost 8,600 jobs; the local government lost 3,900 jobs; while the federal government lost 1,300 jobs.

During the last twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained a total of 2,800 jobs. The private sector lost 1,500 jobs while the public sector gained 4,300 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in educational and health services (up by 9,900 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 6,900 jobs), professional and business services (up by 6,500 jobs), and other services (up by 2,300 jobs). Losses were registered in trade, transportation and utilities (down by 9,900 jobs), natural resources and construction (down by 9,300 jobs), information (down by 3,100 jobs), financial activities (down by 3,000 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 1,800 jobs). In the public sector, federal government gained 6,600 jobs; the state government added 100 jobs; while the local government lost 2,400 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 8,300 in January 2009: the number of employed residents decreased by 31,300 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 22,900. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 5.0 percent in January 2009, was 0.8 percent higher than the rate in December 2008.

Over the year, there was a decrease of 50,800 employed residents in the suburban ring. With 54,300 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 3,600. The suburban ring’s January 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.0 percent from January 2008.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of employed residents decreased by 33,800. With 25,700 more unemployed metropolitan area residents, the civilian labor force in the metropolitan area decreased by 8,100 in January 2009. The unemployment rate in the metropolitan area, at 5.5 percent in January 2009, was 0.8 percent higher than the rate in December 2008.

Compared to January 2008, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force rose by 3,700. Employment decreased by 61,600 and the number of unemployed rose by 65,200.  The Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s January 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.1 percent from the January 2008 rate of 3.4 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

January 2009 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 March 19, 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).