(Washington, DC) - The Department of Employment Services (DOES), announced that the Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted March 2009 unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percent, to 6.1 percent. This resulted in a 2.7 percent increase from March 2008.

Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment 

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 6,100 in March 2009 as employment declined by 2,000 while those who were unemployed decreased by 4,100.

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 72,800. With 64,000 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force decreased by 8,900. 

Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 3,200. The private sector increased by 1,400 jobs while the public sector increased by 1,800 jobs. Within the private sector, other services and educational and health services gained 1,500 jobs each, professional and business services gained 1,000 jobs, leisure and hospitality gained 500 jobs, and financial activities added 300 jobs. Losses were registered in mining, logging and construction (-2,100 jobs), information added (-900 jobs), and trade, transportation and utilities (-400 jobs). Meanwhile manufacturing was unchanged. In the public sector, state government gained 1,500 jobs; the local government added 800 jobs; while the federal government lost 500 jobs.

During the last twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 19,500 jobs. The private sector lost 22,600 jobs while the public sector gained 3,100 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in educational and health services (+8,200 jobs), professional and business services (+4,600 jobs), and other services (+1,300 jobs). Losses were registered in mining, logging and construction (-15,500 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (-9,900 jobs), information (-5,100 jobs), financial activities (-3,600 jobs), manufacturing (-2,200 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (-400 jobs). In the public sector, federal government gained 5,000 jobs; the state government added 1,600 jobs; while the local government lost 3,500 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 1,900 in March 2009: the number of employed residents increased by 1,100 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 3,000. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 5.5 percent in March 2009, was 0.1 percent lower than the rate in February 2009.

Over the year, there was a decrease of 73,700 employed residents in the suburban ring. With 69,200 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force decreased by 4,400. The suburban ring’s March 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.6 percent from March 2008.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of employed residents decreased by 900. With 5,400 fewer unemployed metropolitan area residents, the civilian labor force in the metropolitan area decreased by 6,300 in March 2009. The unemployment rate in the metropolitan area, at 5.9 percent in March 2009, was 0.2 percent lower than the rate in February 2009.

Compared to March 2008, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force decreased by 11,100. Employment decreased by 90,600 and the number of unemployed rose by 79,500.  The Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s March 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.6 percent from the March 2008 rate of 3.3 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

March 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 April 29, 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).