The District's February Unemployment Rate Dips to 5.3 Percent - Releases

(Washington, DC) The Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced today that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted February 2006 unemployment rate continues to drop, down to 5.3 percent (down 0.1 percent) since January. The February 2006 rate was 1.7 percent lower than the rate in February 2005.

“The steady decrease in the local unemployment rate is good news for District residents. We are now experiencing the lowest unemployment level in 16 years--since February 1990. Compared to a year earlier, there were 5,500 fewer unemployed residents,” said Director Irish.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in February 2006 was 4.8 percent; up 0.1 percent from the January 2006 rate and 0.6 percent lower than the February 2005, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

District of Columbia Civilian Labor Force, Employment, Unemployment and Unemployment Rate

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2006 was 5.5 percent; up 0.1 percent from the January 2006 rate and 2.1 percent lower than the 7.6 percent rate in February 2005.

Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 1,200 to 291,900. A total of 275,800 residents were employed and 16,100 were unemployed in February 2006. A 1,000 increase in the number of employed residents along with a 300 rise in the number of unemployed residents resulted in a 0.1 percent increase in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

From February 2005 to February 2006, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 6,300 as the number of employed residents increased by 400 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 6,700. The District’s February 2006 unemployment rate was 2.1 percent lower than the 7.6 percent rate in February 2005.

The February 2006 national unemployment rate of 5.1 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was unchanged from the rate in January 2006 and 0.7 percent lower than the rate in February 2005.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 5,100 in February 2006. The private sector gained 5,800 jobs and the public sector shed 700 jobs. In the private sector, educational and health services gained 3,000 jobs; professional and business services and other services increased by 1,300 jobs; leisure and hospitality increased by 1,100 jobs; information and other services added 400 jobs each; and natural resources and construction increased by 100 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities lost 400 jobs and manufacturing lost 100 jobs. Financial activities was unchanged over the month. In the public sector, the federal government shed 800 jobs, the District government gained 100 jobs and transportation was unchanged.

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 8,900 jobs. The private sector added 10,700 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 3,300 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 3,100 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities and financial activities (up by 400 jobs each), and information (up by 100 jobs). Losses were noted in natural resources and construction (down by 500 jobs) and manufacturing (down by 200 jobs). Other services was unchanged over the year. In the public sector, the federal government lost 1,800 jobs and transportation lost 300 jobs while the District government gained 300 jobs.

Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment Rate

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 4,000 in February 2006 as employment increased by 6,200 and the number unemployed decreased by 2,200. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.0 percent in February, was 0.1 percent lower than the rate in January 2006.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 66,900. With 17,400 fewer unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 49,500. The metropolitan division’s February 2006 unemployment rate of 3.0 percent was 0.9 percent lower than the 3.9 percent rate in February 2005.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in February 2006 by 11,200. The private sector increased by 8,400 jobs and the public sector gained 2,800 jobs. Within the private sector, gains were registered in professional and business services and educational and health services (up by 4,400 jobs each), leisure and hospitality (up by 1,700 jobs), information (up by 600 jobs), other services (up by 500 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 300 jobs), financial activities (up by 200 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 200 jobs). Trade, transportation, and utilities lost 3,800 jobs. In the public sector, state government added 3,000 jobs; local government gained 1,300 jobs; and the federal government lost 1,500 jobs.

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 58,400 jobs. The private sector gained 52,100 jobs and the public sector added 6,300 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 24,200 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 8,300 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 7,400 jobs), educational and health services (up by 6,900 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 4,400 jobs), financial activities (up by 1,900 jobs), and other services (up by 1,400 jobs). Information lost 2,400 jobs while manufacturing was unchanged. In government, local government gained 7,300 jobs and state government added 800 jobs while the federal government lost 1,800 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 5,500 in February 2006 as employment rose by 9,500 and the number unemployed decreased by 4,100. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.7 percent in February, was 0.1 percent lower than the rate in January 2006.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 89,800. With 15,000 fewer unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 74,800. The suburban ring’s February 2006 unemployment rate of 2.7 percent was 0.7 percent lower than the rate in February 2005.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force increased by 6,700 in February 2006. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 10,500, and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 3,800. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.0 percent in February 2006 was 0.1 percent lower than the rate in January 2006.

Compared to February 2005, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 68,500. Employment increased by 90,200 and unemployment decreased by 21,700. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s February 2006 unemployment rate was 0.8 percent lower than the February 2005 rate of 3.8 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

February 2006 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 April 5, 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).