|
The District's Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly to 6.0 Percent
|
(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased in December 2005 to 6.0 percent, down 0.1 percent from November. Over the year, the rate was 2.8 percent lower than the 8.8 percent rate in December 2004.
“Over the past year, the District has seen a steady decline in unemployment,” said Gregg Irish, Director of the Department of Employment Services. “The December rate is the lowest level we have experienced in over four years – since March 2001. I am happy to announce that the city is experiencing a substantial improvement in labor market conditions.”
The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in December 2005 was 4.9 percent; down 0.1 percent from the November 2005 rate, and 0.5 percent lower than the December 2004 seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate.
District of Columbia Civilian Labor Force, Employment, Unemployment and Unemployment Rate
District Job Growth
Washington Metropolitan Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment, Unemployment and Unemployment Rate
Washington Metropolitan Area Job Growth
Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate
Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth
District of Columbia Civilian Labor Force, Employment, Unemployment and Unemployment Rate
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2005 was 5.9 percent; down 0.1 percent from the November 2005 rate, and 3.1 percent lower than the 9.0 percent rate in December 2004.
Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 300 to 292,400. A total of 275,200 residents were employed and 17,200 were unemployed in December 2005. A 500 increase in the number of employed residents along with a 200 drop in the number of unemployed residents resulted in a 0.1 percent decrease in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.
From December 2004 to December 2005, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 9,700 as the number of employed residents increased by 200 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 9,900. The District’s December 2005 unemployment rate was 3.1 percent lower than the 9.0 percent rate in December 2004.
The December 2005 national unemployment rate of 4.6 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was down 0.2 percent from the rate in November 2005, and 0.5 percent lower than the rate in December 2004.
 
District of Columbia Job Growth
The number of District wage and salary jobs decreased by 1,400 in December 2005. The private sector lost 1,600 jobs while the public sector added 200 jobs. In the private sector, educational and health services lost 2,300 jobs; leisure and hospitality decreased by 600 jobs; and natural resources and construction lost 100 jobs. Professional and business services increased by 600 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities gained 500 jobs; information added 200 jobs and financial activities gained 100 jobs. Manufacturing and other services were unchanged over the month. In the public sector, the federal government and transportation added 100 jobs each while the District government was unchanged.
In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 11,700 jobs. The private sector added 12,100 jobs while the public sector lost 400 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 3,900 jobs), educational and health services (up by 3,100 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 2,100 jobs), other services (up by 1,400 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (up by 600 jobs), financial activities (up by 500 jobs), information (up by 400 jobs), and natural resources and construction (up by 100 jobs). Manufacturing was unchanged over the year. In the public sector, the District government gained 300 jobs while the federal government lost 400 jobs and transportation lost 300 jobs.
Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment Rate
The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 3,700 in December 2005 as employment rose by 3,600 and the number unemployed decreased by 7,400. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.0 percent in December, was 0.3 percent lower than the rate in November 2005.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 77,200. With 14,500 fewer unemployed division residents, the division’s civilian labor force rose by 62,800. The metropolitan division’s December 2005 unemployment rate of 3.0 percent was 0.7 percent lower than the 3.7 percent rate in December 2004.
Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in December 2005 by 4,600. The private sector increased by 3,700 jobs and the public sector gained 900 jobs. Within the private sector, gains were registered in trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 4,100 jobs), professional and business services (up by 3,200 jobs), other services (up by 800 jobs), and financial activities (up by 200 jobs). Losses were noted in educational and health services (up by 2,000 jobs), leisure and hospitality (down by 1,000 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (down by 900 jobs), manufacturing (down by 400 jobs), and information (down by 300 jobs). In the public sector, the federal government added 800 jobs, local government gained 300 jobs, while state government lost 200 jobs.
During the past twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 70,200 jobs. The private sector gained 61,200 jobs and the public sector added 9,000 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 17,200 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 10,300 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 9,900 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 7,400 jobs), educational and health services (up by 7,300 jobs), other services (up by 4,600 jobs), financial activities (up by 3,400 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 1,400 jobs). Information lost 300 jobs over the year. In government, local government gained 5,200 jobs and state government added 4,400 jobs, while the federal government shed 600 jobs.
Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate
The civilian labor force in the suburban ring of communities surrounding the District of Columbia decreased by 2,700 in December 2005 as employment rose by 7,800 and the number unemployed decreased by 10,500. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.6 percent in December, was 0.4 percent lower than the rate in November 2005.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 98,100. With 6,200 fewer unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 91,900. The suburban ring’s December 2005 unemployment rate of 2.6 percent was 0.3 percent lower than the rate in December 2004.
For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the civilian labor force decreased by 2,700 in December 2005. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area increased by 8,300, and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 10,700. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 2.9 percent in December 2005 was 0.4 percent lower than the rate in November 2005.
Compared to December 2004, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 82,200. Employment increased by 98,300 and unemployment decreased by 16,100. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s unemployment rate in December 2005 was 0.7 percent lower than the December 2004 rate of 3.6 percent.
Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth
Wage and salary employment estimates in December 2005 for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area will be released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on February 1, 2006. 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).
|
|