The District's Unemployment Rate Increased Slightly - Releases

(Washington, DC) Today, Department of Employment Services Director Gregg Irish announced that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted February 2005 unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, up 0.1 percent from the January 2005 revised rate of 8.1 percent. The 2005 rate was marginally higher, 0.6 percent, than the February 2004 rate.

“The slight rise in the unemployment rate resulted from small increases in both the number of employed District residents and unemployed residents. This shift created a small spike in the seasonally adjusted rate,” said Director Irish. In February, there were 600 more city residents employed while an additional 100 residents became unemployed. This resulted in a 700 increase in the labor force.

The national unemployment rate in February 2005 (seasonally adjusted) was 5.4 percent; 0.2 percent higher than the January 2005 rate and 0.2 percent lower than the February 2004, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February 2005 was 8.2 percent; up 0.5 percent from the January 2005 rate of 7.7 percent and 0.7 percent higher than the rate in February 2004.

Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 4,200 to 303,100. A total of 278,200 residents were employed and 24,900 were unemployed in February 2005. A 2,200 increase in the number of employed residents coupled with a 2,000 increase in the number of unemployed residents resulted in the increase in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

From February 2004 to February 2005, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 6,100 as the number of employed residents increased by 3,400 and the number of unemployed residents increased by 2,700. The District’s February 2005 unemployment rate was 0.7 percent higher than the 7.5 percent rate in February 2004.

The February 2005 national unemployment rate of 5.8 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was one-tenth of a percent higher than the January 2005 rate and two-tenths of a percent lower than the February 2004 rate.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 4,300 in February 2005. The private sector increased by 5,200 jobs and the public sector registered a 900-job loss. In the private sector, educational and health services gained 2,300 jobs, professional and business services added 1,700 jobs, and leisure and hospitality increased by 1,000 jobs. Other services gained 200 jobs and financial activities added 100 jobs, while trade, transportation and utilities lost 100 jobs. Natural resources and construction, manufacturing, and information were all unchanged over the month. In the public sector, the federal government lost 800 jobs and the District government shed 100 jobs while transportation was unchanged.

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 3,900 jobs. The private sector increased by 4,000 jobs and the public sector lost 100 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 2,000 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 1,900 jobs), other services (up by 1,700 jobs), financial activities (up by 300 jobs), and educational and health services (up by 100 jobs). Losses occurred in information (down by 1,300 jobs), natural resources and construction (down by 300 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (down by 300 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 100 jobs). In the public sector, the federal government lost 1,300 jobs, the District government gained 1,200 jobs and transportation was unchanged.

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

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 10,100 in February 2005 as employment rose by 8,700 and the number unemployed increased by 1,400. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.8 percent in February, was unchanged from the rate in January 2005.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 44,500. With 100 fewer unemployed residents, the division’s civilian labor force rose by 44,400. The metropolitan division’s February 2005 unemployment rate of 3.8 percent was one-tenth of a percent lower than the 3.9 percent rate in February 2004.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 8,300. The private sector gained 4,700 jobs and the public sector added 3,600 jobs over the month. Within the private sector, gains were registered in educational and health services (up by 3,500 jobs), professional and business services (up by 2,700 jobs), information (up by 600 jobs), and leisure and hospitality and other services (each up by 200 jobs). Losses were noted in trade, transportation, and utilities (down by 2,200 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (down by 200 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 100 jobs). Financial activities were unchanged. In the public sector, state government gained 3,300 jobs and local government employment increased by 1,800 jobs, while the federal government shed 1,500 jobs.

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 66,300 jobs – the private sector gained 57,800 jobs and the public sector added 8,500 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 23,100 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 10,500 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 7,500 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 6,400 jobs), other services (up by 4,800 jobs), educational and health services (up by 4,300 jobs), financial activities (up by 1,900 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 200 jobs). Information lost 900 jobs. In government, state government gained 5,100 jobs; the federal government added 2,000 jobs and local government gained 1,400 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 5,300 in February 2005 as employment rose by 5,700 and the number of unemployed workers decreased by 500. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.2 percent in February, was unchanged from the rate in January 2005.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 41,800. With 1,600 fewer unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 40,200. The suburban ring’s February 2005 unemployment rate of 3.2 percent was one-tenth of a percent lower than the 3.3 percent rate in February 2004.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the civilian labor force increased by 9,500 in February 2005. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 7,900, and the number of unemployed residents increased by 1,500. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.7 percent in February 2005 was unchanged from the rate in January 2005.

Compared to February 2004, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 46,300. Employment increased by 45,200 and unemployment rose by 1,100. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s February 2005 unemployment rate was one-tenth of a percent lower than the February 2004 rate of 3.8 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

The February 2005 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 7, 2005. 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).