(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia, Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the unemployment rate in the District dropped by 0.1 percent to 11.8 percent.  The November national unemployment rate was 10.0 percent compared to 10.2 percent in October.  At 712,800, jobs are up 3,600 or 0.5 percent from a year ago. Over the year, the federal government registered the most job gains, while educational and health services and professional and business services in the private sector registered job gains.

Employment Overview
Professional and Business Services gained 900 jobs following a 100 job loss in October. With employment at 151,900 in November, jobs are down 800 or -0.5 percent from a year ago.

Educational and health services added 500 jobs after adding 5,600 jobs the prior month. The November job gains in this sector came entirely from educational services. This sector has experienced positive substantial job gains since May, gaining 2,800 jobs over the same period. With employment at 109,000 in November, jobs are up 1,600 from a year ago.

Leisure and Hospitality lost 1,000 jobs following a loss of 1,500 jobs in October. With employment at 59,400, jobs are up 600 over the year.

Other Services lost 700 jobs following a gain of 1,500 jobs the prior month. At 65,200, employment is down 1,100 or -1.7 percent from a year ago.

Financial activities lost 300 jobs following a loss of 200 jobs the prior month. With employment at 26,900, jobs are down 1,400 from a year ago.

Information lost 200 jobs in November following a similar loss in October. At 18,600, employment is down 1,600 or -7.9 percent from one year ago.

Construction lost 200 jobs in November. At 12,000, employment is down 700 or -5.5 percent from a year ago.

Trade, transportation, and utilities was unchanged in November. With employment of 27,000, the sector is down 1,100 jobs or -3.9 percent from a year ago.

Manufacturing was unchanged in November. Employment in manufacturing has remained constant since January. At 1,300, employment is down 100 from a year ago. Manufacturing is the smallest sector in the District accounting for less than 0.2 percent of total payroll employment.

Labor Force Overview
The District’s labor force increased by 1,100 in November, with 1,200 more residents employed and no change in the number of unemployed residents.  At 330,900, the labor force was down 1,700 from November 2008, with 14,200 fewer residents employed and 12,600 more residents unemployed.

The unemployment rate is based on a monthly sample of households, while the job estimates are derived from a monthly sample survey of employers. As a result, the two statistics may exhibit different trends.

NOTES: The December 2009 unemployment rate and survey of jobs data for the District will be released on Friday, January 22, 2010. Historical jobs and labor force estimates for District of Columbia and detailed labor market information is available here.

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District of Columbia Wage and Salary Employment by Industry and Place of Work*