The District's Unemployment Rate Declined in April 2005 to 7.7 Percent - Releases

(Washington, DC) Today, the Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell in April to 7.7 percent, which represents a 0.1 percent reduction from the March 2005 revised rate of 7.8 percent. April’s 2005 rate was 0.2 percent lower than in April 2004.

“This year, the District’s unemployment rate has declined by 1.1 percent. The slight April decrease in the unemployment rate resulted from a reduction of 100 unemployed District residents and an increase of 200 employed residents. During the past 12 months, the labor force increased by 5,200 because more District residents were employed,” said Gregg Irish, Director of the Department of Employment Services.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in April 2005 was 5.2 percent; unchanged from the March 2005 rate and 0.3 percent lower than the April 2004, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April 2005 was 6.9 percent; down 0.7 percent from the March 2005 rate of 7.6 percent and 0.4 percent lower than the 7.3 percent rate in April 2004.

Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 600 to 300,200. A total of 279,500 residents were employed and 20,600 were unemployed in April 2005. A 2,200 decrease in the number of unemployed residents along with a 1,500 increase in the number of employed residents was responsible for the 0.7 percent drop in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

From April 2004 to April 2005, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 4,000 as the number of employed residents increased by 5,000 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 1,100. The District’s April 2005 unemployment rate was 0.4 percent lower than the 7.3 percent rate in April 2004.

The April 2005 national unemployment rate of 4.9 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was half of a percent lower than the rate in March 2005 and April 2004.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 6,500 in April 2005. The private sector increased by 6,300 jobs and the public sector registered a 200-job gain. In the private sector, professional and business services added 2,100 jobs; leisure and hospitality gained 1,700 jobs; and educational and health services gained 1,000 jobs. Natural resources and construction and other services each increased by 400 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities and information each gained 300 jobs, while financial activities added 100 jobs. Manufacturing was unchanged over the month. In the public sector, the federal government and the District government added 100 jobs each, while transportation was unchanged.

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 7,200 jobs. The private sector increased by 7,600 jobs, while the public sector lost 400 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in leisure and hospitality (up by 3,100 jobs), professional and business services (up by 2,500 jobs), other services (up by 1,800 jobs), and educational and health services (up by 1,300 jobs). Losses occurred in information (down by 800 jobs), natural resources and construction (down by 200 jobs), and trade, transportation and utilities (down by 100 jobs). Manufacturing and financial activities were unchanged. In the public sector, the federal government lost 1,400 jobs, the District government gained 1,100 jobs and transportation lost 100 jobs.

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

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 10,400 in April 2005 as employment rose by 13,100 and the number unemployed decreased by 2,600. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.5 percent in April, was one-tenth of a percent lower than the rate in March 2005.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 60,900. With 400 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 61,200. The metropolitan division’s April 2005 unemployment rate of 3.5 percent was one-tenth of a percent lower than the 3.6 percent rate in April 2004.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in April 2005 by 15,000. The private sector gained 15,700 jobs and the public sector lost 700 jobs over the month. Within the private sector, gains were registered in leisure and hospitality (up by 5,000 jobs), professional and business services (up by 4,400 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 2,500 jobs), educational and health services (up by 1,000 jobs), other services (up by 800 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities and financial activities (each up by 700 jobs), information (up by 400 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 200 jobs). In the public sector, the federal government and state government increased by 600 jobs each, while local government shed 1,900 jobs.

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 72,500 jobs. The private sector gained 64,500 jobs and the public sector added 8,000 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 22,100 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 12,500 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 10,200 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 6,800 jobs), educational and health services (up by 6,700 jobs), other services (up by 4,900 jobs), financial activities (up by 800 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 700 jobs). Information lost 200 jobs. Government recorded gains in state government (5,900 jobs), the federal government (1,700 jobs) and local government (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 10,700 in April 2005 as employment rose  by 13,300 and the number unemployed decreased by 2,400. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.0 percent in April, was one-tenth of a percent lower than the rate in March 2005.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 62,200.   With 2,600 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 64,600. The suburban ring’s April 2005 unemployment rate of 3.0 percent was unchanged from the rate in April 2004.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the civilian labor force increased by 10,100 in April 2005. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 14,800, and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 4,600. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.4 percent in April 2005 was two-tenths of a percent lower than the rate in March 2005.

Compared to April 2004, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 68,600. Employment increased by 67,200 and unemployment increased by 1,500. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s April 2005 unemployment rate was unchanged from the April 2004 rate of 3.4 percent.



Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

April 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 June 1, 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).