|
District of Columbia's Unemployment Rate at 8.2 Percent in July 2004
|
(Washington, DC) Today, Gregg Irish, Director of the Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced that the District of Columbia's July 2004 unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 8.2 percent, which is up 0.5 percent from the June 2004 rate of 7.7 percent. The July 2004 rate was also 0.6 percent higher than the rate in July 2003.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July 2004 was 7.8 percent; 0.7 percent higher than the 7.1 percent rate in June 2004 and July 2003.
“The July increase in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was resulted from students and recent graduates entering the labor force. The civilian labor force increased by 4,200 in July with 2,400 more residents employed and 1,900 more unemployed. The over-the-year statistics, however, are continuing to show a decline in the District’s civilian labor force resulting from employed residents leaving the labor force.
Compared to July 2003, there were 7,700 fewer employed residents and 1,700 more unemployed," said Director Irish.
District of Columbia Civilian Labor Force, Employment, Unemployment and Unemployment Rate
Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 4,200 to 307,900. A total of 282,600 residents were employed and 25,400 were unemployed in July 2004. With the number of unemployed residents increasing to 1,900, coupled with an increase of 2,400 employed residents, resulted in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rising by 0.5 percent to 8.2 percent.
The District’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July was 7.8 percent; seven-tenths of a percent higher than the rate in June 2004 and July 2003.
The July 2004 national unemployment rate of 5.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, was one-tenth of a percent lower than the June 2004 unemployment rate and six-tenths of a percent lower than the July 2003 rate.
The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in July 2004 was 5.5 percent; one-tenth of a percent lower than in June 2004 and 0.7 percent lower than the July 2003, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.
From July 2003 to July 2004, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 6,100 as the number of employed residents decreased by 7,700 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 1,700. The District’s July 2004 unemployment rate was six-tenths of a percent higher than the 7.6 percent rate in July 2003.
 
District Job Growth
The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 9,400 in July 2004. The private sector registered a 2,600 job gain, while the public sector increased by 6,800 jobs. In the private sector, gains of 1,700 in educational and health services, 1,100 in professional and business services and 600 in other services were partially offset by a seasonal job loss of 700 in leisure and hospitality. Information and financial activities each gained 100 jobs, while trade, transportation and utilities and natural resources and construction, lost 200 and 100 jobs, respectively. In the public sector, the District government added 5,900 jobs as a result of the summer youth employment program, the Federal government added 800 jobs, and public transportation gained 100 jobs.
In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 7,000 jobs. The private sector registered an increase of 7,900 jobs, while the public sector lost 900 jobs. The private sector growth was concentrated in professional and business services (up by 4,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 1,800 jobs), natural resources and construction (up by 600 jobs), and educational and health services (up by 500 jobs). Trade, transportation and utilities added 300 jobs, while financial activities and other services each gained 200 jobs. Manufacturing shed 100 jobs over the year. In the public sector, the federal government lost 900 jobs, while the District government and transportation were unchanged.
Washington Metropolitan 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 25,100 in July 2004, as employment rose by 29,300, and the number unemployed decreased by 4,300. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.7 percent in July, was one-tenth of a percent lower than the June 2004 rate.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 74,500. With 11,700 fewer unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 62,900. The suburban ring’s July 2004 unemployment rate of 2.7 percent was five-tenths of a percent lower than the 3.2 percent rate in July 2003.
For the Washington Metropolitan Area, the civilian labor force increased by 29,300 in July 2004. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 31,700, and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 2,400. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.2 percent in July 2004 was one-tenth of a percent lower than the June 2004 rate of 3.3 percent.
Compared to July 2003, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 56,800. Employment increased by 66,800, with 10,000 fewer unemployed. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s July 2004 unemployment rate was four-tenths of a percent lower than the July 2003 rate of 3.6 percent.
Washington Metropolitan Area Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Area decreased over the month in July 2004 by 1,100. The private sector gained 11,600 jobs, while the public sector lost 12,700 jobs over the month. The largest private sector gains were in professional and business services (up by 9,800 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 2,800 jobs) and trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 1,700 jobs). Gains were also registered in information (up by 600 jobs), other services (up by 600 jobs), financial activities (up by 300 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 100 jobs). Educational and health services lost 3,600 jobs and leisure and hospitality declined by 700 jobs. In the public sector, the federal government gained 4,700 jobs and state government gained 5,900 jobs, while local government employment declined seasonally by 23,300 jobs.
During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Area gained 80,600 jobs. The private sector gained 68,600 jobs and the public sector added 12,000 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 28,800 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 16,400 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 11,800 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 6,300 jobs), financial activities (up by 3,400 jobs), other services (up by 1,800 jobs), information (up by 400 jobs) and educational and health services (up by 200 jobs). Manufacturing lost 500 jobs. In government, local government added 6,500 jobs and state government added 3,100 jobs while the federal government gained 2,400 jobs.
|
|