(Washington, D.C.)  - The Department of Employment Services reported today that the unemployment rate in the District of Columbia decreased to 10.6 percent in July compared to June's 10.9 percent unemployment rate. The Federal Government gained 2400 jobs, while Education and Health Services recorded the largest monthly declines. The July national unemployment rate was 9.4 percent compared to 9.5 percent in June.  A total of 294,600 District’s residents were employed and 35,000 were unemployed in July.

District of Columbia Job Growth

Over the month, the total number of wage and salary jobs in the District increased by 20,700 mainly from the Summer Youth Employment Program: jobs in the public sector increased by 21,600, while those in the private sector decreased by 900.

In the private sector, job gains were experienced in professional and business services (+1,400 jobs) and mining, logging and construction (+100 jobs). However, the job gains were offset by losses in education and health services (-900 jobs), other services (-800 jobs), financial activities (-500 jobs), and leisure and hospitality and information (-100 jobs each). Meanwhile, manufacturing and trade, transportation, and utilities were unchanged.

In the public sector, the District Government added 19,200 jobs and the federal government gained 2,400 jobs; while public transportation was unchanged.

Over the year, from July 2008 to July 2009, total non-farm employment increased by 4,800 jobs.

The private sector growth over the year occurred in education and health services (+1,200 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (+1,100 jobs). Job losses occurred in professional and business services (-2,500 jobs), other services and trade, transportation and utilities (-1,800 jobs each), financial activities (-1,500 jobs), information (-1,300 jobs), mining, logging and construction (-600), and manufacturing (-300). In the public sector, the federal government gained 5,300 jobs and the District Government added 7,000 jobs, while public transportation was unchanged. Overall, the private sector lost 7,500 jobs and the public sector gained 12,300 jobs from July 2008 to July 2009.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2009 dropped to 10.4 percent; down 0.9 percent from the rate in June 2009.
 
Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 5,000 to 337,500.  A total of 302,500 residents were employed and 35,000 were unemployed in July 2009.  A 7,400 increase in the number of employed residents along with 2,500 decrease in the number of unemployed residents resulted in a 0.9 percent decrease in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.
 
From July 2008 to July 2009, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 5,300 as the number of employed residents decreased by 15,100 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 9,800.

The July 2009 national unemployment rate of 9.7 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was unchanged from the rate in June 2009.

To view data statistics please click on the below files:

Wage and Salary Employment by Industry and Place of Work*

Employment Status for the Civilian Population*