(Washington, DC) Today, Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted May 2009 unemployment rate was 10.7 percent, up 0.8 percent from the April 2009 rate. The May 2009 rate was 4.1 percent higher than the rate in May 2008.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate was 9.4% in May 2009 a rise of 0.5 percent from the April 2009 rate, and 3.9 percent higher than the May 2008 rate.

District of Columbia’s Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment 

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2009 was 10.7 percent; up 1.5 percent from the rate in April 2009 and 4.3 percent higher than the rate in May 2008.
 
Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 3,800 to 326,900.  A total of 291,800 residents were employed and 35,100 were unemployed in May 2009.  A 1,400 decrease in the number of employed residents along with an 5,300 increase in the number of unemployed residents resulted in a 1.5 percent increase in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.
 
From May 2008 to May 2009, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 4,500 as the number of employed residents decreased by 18,300 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 13,800. The District’s May 2009 unemployment rate was 4.3 percent higher than the rate in May 2008.

The May 2009 national unemployment rate of 9.1 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was 0.5 percent higher than the rate in April 2009 and 3.9 percent higher than the rate in May 2008.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs decreased by 1,500 in May 2009. The private sector decreased by 2,900 jobs, while the public sector increased by 1,400 jobs. Within the private sector, job gains were experienced in leisure and hospitality (+1,000 jobs), mining, logging and construction (+200 jobs), and trade, transportation and utilities (+100 jobs). Job losses were noted in education and health services (-2,700 jobs) and professional and business services (-1,500 jobs). Meanwhile, manufacturing, information, financial activities, and other services were unchanged over the month. In the public sector, the federal government gained 1,500 jobs; transportation lost 100 jobs; while there was no change in the District Government.

In the last twelve months, the District lost a total of 1,200 jobs. The private sector lost 4,800 jobs and the public sector gained 3,600 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in educational and health services (+5,400 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (+600 jobs). All the other sectors lost jobs: professional and business services (-5,300 jobs), information (-1,700 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (-1,400 jobs), financial activities (-800 jobs), mining, logging and construction and other services (-600 jobs each), and manufacturing (-400 jobs). In the public sector, the federal government gained 3,600 jobs; while transportation and the District Government were unchanged.

Wage and Salary Employment by Industry and Place of Work*

Employment Status for the Civilian Population*