(Washington, DC) - The Department of Employment Services (DOES), announced that the Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted May 2009 unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percent to 6.4 percent. This resulted in a 2.8 percent increase from May 2008.

Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment 

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 6,200 in May 2009 as employment declined by 6,300 while those who were unemployed increased by 12,700.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 84,800. With 65,900 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force decreased by 19,100. 

Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 11,800. The private sector increased by 8,500 jobs while the public sector increased by 3,300 jobs. Within the private sector, leisure and hospitality gained 6,800 jobs, mining, logging and construction gained 1,700 jobs, trade, transportation and utilities gained 1,500 jobs, financial activities gained 1,000 jobs, and professional and business services added 700 jobs. Losses were registered in educational and health services (-1,700 jobs), other services (-800 jobs), manufacturing (-400 jobs), and information (-300 jobs). In the public sector, federal government added 2,500 jobs and the local government added 1,400 jobs; while the state government lost 600 jobs.

During the last twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 31,300 jobs. The private sector lost 38,400 jobs while the public sector gained 7,100 jobs. In the private sector, only educational and health services (+4,700 jobs) gained jobs. Losses occurred in mining, logging and construction (-14,000 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (-10,100 jobs), information (-5,900 jobs), leisure and hospitality (-5,400 jobs), financial activities (-3,900 jobs), manufacturing (-2,500 jobs), and other services (-1,300 jobs). Professional and business services was unchanged. In the public sector, federal government gained 7,600 jobs; the state government added 2,500 jobs; while the local government lost 3,000 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 2,400 in May 2009: the number of employed residents decreased by 8,000 while the number of unemployed residents increased by 10,300. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 5.6 percent in May 2009, was 0.4 percent higher than the rate in April 2009.

Over the year, there was a decrease of 89,900 employed residents in the suburban ring. With 66,900 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force decreased by 23,000. The suburban ring’s May 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.5 percent from May 2008.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of employed residents decreased by 9,400. With 15,600 more unemployed metropolitan area residents, the civilian labor force in the metropolitan area increased by 6,200 in May 2009. The unemployment rate in the metropolitan area, at 6.2 percent in May 2009, was 0.5 percent higher than the rate in April 2009.

Compared to May 2008, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force decreased by 27,500. Employment decreased by 108,200 and the number of unemployed rose by 80,700.  The Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s May 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.7 percent from the May 2008 rate of 3.5 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

May 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 June 30, 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).