The District of Columbia's Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.5 Percent in April 2006 - Releases

(Washington, DC) The Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted April 2006 unemployment rate rose slightly by 0.2 percent to 5.5 percent. However, the April 2006 rate was 1.2 percent lower than the rate in April 2005.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in April 2006 was 4.7 percent; unchanged from the March 2006 rate and 0.4 percent lower than the April 2005, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April 2006 was 5.2 percent; down 0.3 percent from the March 2006 rate and 1 percent lower than the 6.2 percent rate in April 2005.

Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 2,600 to 286,800. A total of 271,800 residents were employed and 15,000 were unemployed in April 2006. A 1,800 decrease in the number of employed residents along with an 800 drop in the number of unemployed residents resulted in a 0.3 percent reduction in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

From April 2005 to April 2006, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 9,100 as the number of employed residents decreased by 5,700 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 3,400. The District’s April 2006 unemployment rate was 1.0 percent lower than the 6.2 percent rate in April 2005.

The April 2006 national unemployment rate of 4.5 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was down 0.3 percent from the rate in March 2006 and 0.4 percent lower than the rate in April 2005.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 2,100 in April 2006. The private sector gained 2,500 jobs while the public sector lost 400 jobs. In the private sector, leisure and hospitality added 1,100 jobs; natural resources and construction increased by 500 jobs; other services added 400 jobs; information increased by 200 jobs; and trade, transportation and utilities, professional and business services and educational and health services added 100 jobs each. Manufacturing and financial activities were unchanged. In the public sector, the federal government shed 300 jobs, the District government lost 100 jobs and transportation was unchanged.

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 11,300 jobs. The private sector added 13,500 jobs while the public sector lost 2,200 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in educational and health services (up by 4,700 jobs), professional and business services (up by 3,500 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 2,900 jobs), information (up by 1,100 jobs), financial activities (up by 800 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (up by 500 jobs), and natural resources and construction (up by 100 jobs). Manufacturing lost 100 jobs while other services was unchanged over the year. In the public sector, the federal government lost 2,200 jobs and transportation lost 200 jobs while the District government gained 200 jobs.