(Washington, D.C.) - The Department of Employment Services (DOES), announced that the Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted August 2009 unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percent to 6.2 percent. This resulted in a 2.0 percent increase from August 2008.

Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment 

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 37,300 in August 2009 as employment dropped by 31,500 while those who were unemployed decreased by 5,900.

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 64,000. With 47,900 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force decreased by 16,100. 

Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased over the month by 19,500. The private sector decreased by 11,000 jobs while the public sector decreased by 8,500 jobs. Within the private sector, only financial activities gained jobs (+600 jobs). Job losses were registered in educational and health services (-1,600 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (-2,600 jobs), professional and business services (-3,500), mining, logging and construction (-1,000 jobs), information (-200 jobs), leisure and hospitality (-1,600 jobs), manufacturing (-200 jobs) and other services (-900 jobs). In the public sector, the state government dropped 2,400 jobs and the federal government dropped 600 jobs; while the local government lost 5,500 jobs.

During the last twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 38,300 jobs. The private sector lost 47,300 jobs while the public sector gained 9,000 jobs. In the private sector, only educational and health services gained jobs (+4,900 jobs). All other sectors experienced over the year job losses: mining, logging and construction (-14,700 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (-11,600 jobs), information (-6,500 jobs), financial activities (-4,300 jobs), leisure and hospitality (-3,700 jobs), other services (-3,200 jobs), manufacturing (-2,700 jobs), and professional and business services (-5,500 jobs). In the public sector, federal government gained 10,100 jobs; the state government added 4,300 jobs; while the local government lost 5,400 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 37,900 in August 2009: the number of employed residents decreased by 27,200, while the number of unemployed residents decreased by 10,900. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 5.4 percent in August 2009, was 0.3 percent lower than the rate in July 2009.

Over the year, there was a decrease of 56,700 employed residents in the suburban ring. With 47,800 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force decreased by 9,000. The suburban ring’s August 2009 unemployment rate was up 1.8 percent from August 2008.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of employed residents decreased by 37,300. With 8,600 less unemployed metropolitan area residents, the civilian labor force in the metropolitan area decreased by 45,900 in August 2009. The unemployment rate in the metropolitan area, at 6.0 percent in August 2009, was 0.2 percent lower than the rate in July 2009.

Compared to August 2008, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force decreased by 18,000. The number of employed decreased by 78,100 and the number of unemployed rose by 60,200.  The Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s August 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.0 percent from the August 2008 rate of 4.0 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

August 2009 wage and salary employment estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area will be released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on September 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).

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 Division Wage and Salary Employment by Industry and Place of Work*