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The District's January Unemployment Rate Falls to Lowest Level in 15 Years
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(Washington, DC) The Department of Employment Services today announced that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January 2006 dropped significantly over the month to 5.4 percent. This marks a 0.5 percent decline from the December 2005 rate and a 1.7 percent decrease since January 2005.
“The January unemployment rate is at its lowest level in over fifteen years–since March 1990–and shows substantial over-the-year improvement in labor market conditions for District residents,” said Director Gregory Irish. “Throughout calendar year 2005, we have seen a steady month-to-month decline in the District’s unemployment rate.”
The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in January 2006 was 4.7 percent; down 0.2 percent from the December 2005 rate and 0.5 percent lower than the January 2005, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.
District of Columbia Civilian Labor Force, Employment, Unemployment and Unemployment Rate
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January 2006 was 5.4 percent; down 0.3 percent from the December 2005 rate and 1.6 percent lower than the 7.0 percent rate in January 2005.
Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 1,300 to 290,700. A total of 274,800 residents were employed and 15,800 were unemployed in January 2006. A 600 decrease in the number of employed residents along with a 900 drop in the number of unemployed residents resulted in a 0.3 percent decrease in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.
From January 2005 to January 2006, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 3,200 as the number of employed residents increased by 1,500 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 4,800. The District’s January 2006 unemployment rate was 1.6 percent lower than the 7.0 percent rate in January 2005.
The January 2006 national unemployment rate of 5.1 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was up 0.5 percent from the rate in December 2005 and 0.6 percent lower than the rate in January 2005.
 
District of Columbia Job Growth
The number of District wage and salary jobs decreased by 9,600 in January 2006. The private sector lost 8,100 jobs and the public sector shed 1,500 jobs. In the private sector, educational and health services lost 2,600 jobs; professional and business services and other services decreased by 1,800 jobs each; leisure and hospitality declined by 1,300 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities lost 900 jobs; and natural resources and construction decreased by 100 jobs. Financial activities gained 300 jobs and information added 100 jobs. Manufacturing was unchanged over the month. In the public sector, the federal government shed 1,400 jobs and District government lost 100 jobs while transportation was unchanged.
In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 9,300 jobs. The private sector added 11,100 jobs while the public sector lost 1,800 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 4,100 jobs), educational and health services (up by 3,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 3,100 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (up by 600 jobs), and financial activities (up by 500 jobs). Losses were noted in natural resources and construction (down by 300 jobs), manufacturing (down by 200 jobs), and. other services (down by 100 jobs). Information was unchanged over the year. In the public sector, the federal government lost 1,800 jobs and transportation lost 200 jobs, while the District government gained 200 jobs.
Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment Rate
The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 3,500 in January 2006 as employment declined by 8,500 and the number unemployed increased by 5,000. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.1 percent in January, was 0.2 percent higher than the rate in December 2005.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 59,100. With 12,400 fewer unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 46,800. The metropolitan division’s January 2006 unemployment rate of 3.1 percent was 0.7 percent lower than the 3.8 percent rate in January 2005.
Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased over the month in January 2006 by 42,600. The private sector decreased by 36,200 jobs and the public sector lost 6,400 jobs. Within the private sector, losses were registered in trade, transportation, and utilities (down by 14,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (down by 6,300 jobs), professional and business services (down by 5,600 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (down by 3,700 jobs), educational and health services (down by 2,500 jobs), other services (down by 1,400 jobs), financial activities (down by 1,300 jobs), information (down by 700 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 300 jobs). In the public sector, the federal government lost 2,600 jobs; state government declined by 2,500 jobs and local government lost 1,300 jobs.
During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 56,000 jobs. The private sector gained 49,200 jobs and the public sector added 6,800 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 23,000 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 8,700 jobs), educational and health services (up by 6,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 6,000 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 4,100 jobs), financial activities (up by 2,200 jobs), and other services (up by 1,500 jobs). Information lost 2,600 jobs and manufacturing shed 100 jobs. In government, local government gained 6,300 jobs and state government added 900 jobs while the federal government lost 400 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 increased by 1,300 in January 2006 as employment fell by 7,400 and the number unemployed increased by 8,800. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.8 percent in January, was 0.3 percent higher than the rate in December 2005.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 73,200. With 10,200 fewer unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 63,000. The suburban ring’s January 2006 unemployment rate of 2.8 percent was 0.5 percent lower than the rate in January 2005.
For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force was unchanged in January 2006. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area decreased by 8,000, and the number of unemployed residents increased by 7,900. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.1 percent in January 2006 was 0.3 percent higher than the rate in December 2005.
Compared to January 2005, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 59,800. Employment increased by 74,700 and unemployment decreased by 15,000. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s January 2006 unemployment rate was 0.6 percent lower than the January 2005 rate of 3.7 percent.
Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth
January 2006 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 March 17, 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).
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