District of Columbia Economy Adds 2,700 Private Sector Jobs in September - Releases

DC – October 21, 2011 ---The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services reported today that the preliminary September job estimates show an increase of 1,700 jobs, for a total of 710,500 jobs in the District. The private sector added 2,700 jobs, while the public sector payrolls were reduced by 1,000 jobs. The numbers are drawn from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through its monthly survey of the District of Columbia’s employers. Since the District’s economic recovery began in 2010, the District of Columbia has recouped just over 0.8 percent, or 3,700, of the private sector jobs lost during the 2008-2009 recession.

The District’s unemployment rate was 11.1 percent in September and remained unchanged from the previous month. The number of unemployed District residents increased only slightly – from 36,700 in August to 37,000 in September 2011.

Based on more complete reporting from employers, previously released August estimates were revised lower, down by 3,700, to show an over-the-month (July-August) total non-farm employment loss of 14,700 jobs. The revised August unemployment rate remained at 11.1 percent.

Employment Overview

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities lost 100 jobs, after a loss of 200 jobs in August. With employment at 25,700, the sector is down by 1,500 jobs or -5.5 percent from a year ago.
Professional and Business Services gained 200 jobs, after a 200 job gain in August. With employment at 152,200, jobs are up by 3,500 or 2.4 percent from a year ago.
Leisure and Hospitality decreased by 300 jobs after a loss of 100 jobs in August. With employment at 59,000, jobs are down by 400 or -0.7 percent over the year.
Financial Activities rose by 100 jobs, after a 300 job gain in August. With employment at 27,200, jobs are up by 1,300 or 5.0 percent from a year ago.
Educational and Health Services increased by 4,300 jobs, after a loss of 1,400 jobs the prior month, reversing the four-month trend down. With employment at 108,300, jobs are down by 800 or -0.7 percent from a year ago.
Other Services declined by 1,500 jobs, after a gain of 200 jobs the prior month. At 62,900, employment is down by 1,200 or -1.9 percent from a year ago.
Construction lost 200 jobs, after a gain of 100 jobs in August. At 11,100, employment is up by 400 jobs or 3.7 percent from a year ago.
Information gained 200 jobs, after a loss of 400 jobs in August. At 18,600, employment is down by 100 jobs or -0.5 percent from one year ago.
Manufacturing had no over-the-month job change, after having no job change the prior month. With employment at 1,100, this sector is down by 100 jobs or -8.3 percent from a year ago. Employment in manufacturing has remained constantly stable. 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 civilian labor force for September was 332,200, of which 295,200 were employed and 37,000 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 11.1 percent. Over-the-month, the civilian labor force was up 1,800, the total number employed increased by 1,500, and the number of unemployed increased by 300. This resulted in the unemployment rate remaining unchanged from a month ago.
The District’s civilian labor force for September 2010 increased by 600 over the year, from 331,600 to 332,200; meanwhile, the total number of employed was decreased by 4,100, from 299,300 to 295,200, from a year ago, and the total number of unemployed was increased by 4,700, from 32,300 to 37,000 for the year. This resulted in an increase of 1.4 percent from last year’s rate of 9.7 percent to the current rate of 11.1 percent.

NOTES: The October 2011 unemployment rate and survey of jobs data for the District will be released on Tuesday, November 22, 2011. Historical jobs and labor force estimates for the District of Columbia and detailed labor market information is available at: http://www.does.dc.gov/does/cwp/view,a,1233,q,538345,doesNav,|32064|.asp .
Technical Notes: Estimates of industry employment and unemployment levels are arrived at through the use of two different monthly surveys.

Attachments:

Wage and Salary Employment by Industry and Place of Work*

Employment Status for the Civilian Population*

Industry employment data are derived through the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, a monthly survey of business establishments conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the US Department of Labor, which provides estimates of employment, hours, and earnings data broken down by industry for the nation as a whole, all states, and most major metropolitan areas (often referred to as the “establishment” survey).

Resident employment and unemployment data are mainly derived from the District’s portion of the national Current Population Survey (CPS), a household survey conducted each month by the US Census Bureau under contract with BLS, which provides input to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program (often referred to as the “household” survey).

Both industry and household estimates are revised each month based on additional information from updated survey reports compiled by BLS. In addition, these estimates are benchmarked (revised) annually based on actual counts from New Jersey’s Unemployment Compensation Law administrative records and other data.

Data reflects 2010 annual benchmark revisions.
Announcement: Changes to the Procedures for Producing Current Employment Statistics (CES) State Estimates
Production of March Preliminary Current Employment Statistics Data
The production of State and metropolitan area Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates has transitioned from State Workforce Agencies to the BLS with the production of preliminary estimates for March 2011. Concurrent with this transition, the BLS will implement several methodological changes to standardize the estimation approach across States. While these changes will reduce the potential for statistical bias in state and metropolitan area estimates, they may increase the month-to-month variability of the estimates. More detailed information on the changes to procedures for producing CES estimates is available on the BLS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/sae/cesprocs.htm.