(Washington, DC) - The Department of Employment Services (DOES), announced that the Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted July 2009 unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 percent to 6.3 percent. This resulted in a 2.2 percent increase from July 2008.

Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment 

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 30,200 in July 2009 as employment rose by 37,200 while those who were unemployed decreased by 7,000.

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 66,600. With 53,900 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force decreased by 12,700. 

Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 6,800. The private sector decreased by 3,100 jobs while the public sector increased by 9,900 jobs. Within the private sector, professional and business services gained 2,300 jobs and mining, logging and construction gained 800 jobs. Losses were registered in educational and health services (-1,800 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (-1,600 jobs), information (-1,100 jobs), financial activities (-1,000 jobs), leisure and hospitality (-600 jobs), and manufacturing (-100 jobs). Meanwhile, other services was unchanged. In the public sector, the state government added 18,900 jobs and the federal government gained 4,400 jobs; while the local government lost 13,400 jobs.

During the last twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 28,000 jobs. The private sector lost 43,300 jobs while the public sector gained 15,300 jobs. In the private sector, only educational and health services gained jobs (+6,300 jobs). All other sectors experienced over the year job losses: mining, logging and construction (-14,100 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (-9,800 jobs), information (-6,800 jobs), financial activities (-5,800 jobs), leisure and hospitality (-4,400 jobs), other services (-3,800 jobs), manufacturing (-2,500 jobs), and professional and business services (-2,400 jobs). In the public sector, federal government gained 9,400 jobs; the state government added 8,100 jobs; while the local government lost 2,200 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 34,500 in July 2009: the number of employed residents increased by 39,600, while the number of unemployed residents decreased by 5,000. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 5.7 percent in July 2009, was 0.2 percent lower than the rate in June 2009.

Over the year, there was a decrease of 68,900 employed residents in the suburban ring. With 57,900 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force decreased by 11,000. The suburban ring’s July 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.1 percent from July 2008.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of employed residents increased by 47,000. With 7,500 fewer unemployed metropolitan area residents, the civilian labor force in the metropolitan area increased by 39,500 in July 2009. The unemployment rate in the metropolitan area, at 6.2 percent in July 2009, was 0.3 percent lower than the rate in June 2009.

Compared to July 2008, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force decreased by 16,300. The number of employed decreased by 84,000 and the number of unemployed rose by 67,700.  The Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s July 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.2 percent from the July 2008 rate of 4.0 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

July 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 September 1, 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).

To view data statistics please click on the below files:

Employment Status for the Civilian Population of the District of Columbia,Washington Metropolitan Division and Statistical Area*

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan DivisionWage and Salary Employment by Industry and Place of Work*