(Washington, DC) Today, Department of Employment Services Director Gregg Irish announced that the District of Columbia's June 2004 unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 7.7 percent, up 0.7 percent from the May 2004 rate of 7.0 percent. The June 2004 rate equaled the June 2003 rate.
“The June increase (in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate) was expected, as recent high school and college graduates entered the labor force. Our data shows that this affected the civilian labor force, which expanded by 6,800 in June with 4,200 more residents employed and 2,600 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 6,800 to 303,600. A total of 280,100 residents were employed and 23,500 were unemployed in June 2004. A 2,600 increase in the number of unemployed residents coupled with a 4,200 increase in the number of employed residents resulted in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rising by 0.7 percent to 7.7 percent.
The District’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June was 7.1 percent; four-tenths of a percent lower than May’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate and equal to the rate in June 2003.
The June 2004 national unemployment rate of 5.8 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was five-tenths of a percent higher than the May 2004 unemployment rate and seven-tenths of a percent lower than the June 2003 rate.
The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in June 2004 was 5.6 percent; the same as in May 2004 and 0.7 percent lower than the June 2003, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.
From June 2003 to June 2004, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 5,100. The number of employed residents decreased by 4,900 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 300. The District’s June 2004 unemployment rate equaled the 7.7 percent rate in June 2003.
District Job Growth
The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 1,500 in June 2004. The private sector registered a 700-job loss, as the public sector gained 2,200 jobs. In the private sector, a seasonal job loss of 3,000 in education and health services and a 700 decline in leisure and hospitality was partially offset by a 2,000 increase in professional and business services. There was a 400-job gain in other services, a 300-job increase in natural resources and construction, a gain of 200 in information, and a 100-job increase in trade, transportation and utilities. In the public sector, the federal government added 2,300 jobs, the District government was unchanged and public transportation lost 100 jobs.
In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 5,000 jobs. The private sector registered an increase of 6,400 jobs, while the public sector lost 1,400 jobs. The private sector growth was concentrated in professional and business services (up by 4,300 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 1,400 jobs), natural resources and construction (up by 800 jobs), and educational and health services (up by 400 jobs). Information and financial activities each gained 100 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities and other services lost 300 jobs each, while manufacturing shed 100 jobs over the year. In the public sector, the federal government lost 1,300 jobs, the District government was unchanged and transportation lost 100 jobs.
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 39,600 in June 2004 as employment rose by 31,600 and the number of unemployed workers increased by 7,900. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.8 percent in June, was two-tenths of a percent higher than the revised May 2004 rate.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 82,200. With 13,400 fewer unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 68,700. The suburban ring’s June 2004 unemployment rate of 2.8 percent was six-tenths of a percent lower than the 3.4 percent rate in June 2003.
For the Washington Metropolitan Area, the civilian labor force increased by 46,400 in June 2004. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 35,800, and the number of unemployed residents increased by 10,500. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.3 percent in June 2004 was three-tenths of a percent higher than the revised May 2004 rate of 3.0 percent.
Compared to June 2003, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 63,600. Employment increased by 77,300, with 13,700 fewer unemployed. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s June 2004 unemployment rate was six-tenths of a percent lower than the June 2003 rate of 3.9 percent.
Washington Metropolitan Area Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Area increased over the month by 22,300. The private sector increased by 21,100 and the public sector added 1,200 jobs over the month. The largest private sector gains were in leisure and hospitality (up by 7,000 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 6,000 jobs), professional and business services (up by 6,000 jobs), and natural resources, mining and construction (up by 2,900 jobs). Gains were also registered in financial activities (up by 1,400 jobs), other services (up by 1,000 jobs), manufacturing (up by 700 jobs) and information (up by 600 jobs). Educational and health services lost 4,500 jobs. In the public sector, the federal government gained 2,800 jobs and local government gained 600 jobs, while state government lost 2,200 jobs.
During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Area gained 82,000 jobs. The private sector gained 75,700 jobs and the public sector added 6,300 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 31,000 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 17,400 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 12,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 8,800 jobs), financial activities (up by 4,800 jobs), and other services (up by 2,700 jobs). Manufacturing lost 900 jobs, educational and health services shed 400 jobs and information lost 100 jobs. In government, local government added 5,100 jobs and the federal government gained 1,700 jobs, while state government lost 500 jobs.