The District's Unemployment Rate Continues to Fall - Releases

(Washington, DC) Today, Department of Employment Services Director Gregg Irish announced that the June 2005 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped 0.4 percent to 7.5 percent. The June rate was also 0.6 percent lower than the rate in June 2004.

“The decrease in the June unemployment rate can be attributed to a number of factors, including a 1,400 decrease in the number of unemployed District residents, a 1,200 increase in employed residents, and a 300 decrease in the labor force,” said Director Irish. “June also showed an increase in employment, especially in the private sector, which made it easier for job seekers to find employment in construction, trade, transportation and utilities, and business and professional services.”

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate also dropped in June 2005 to 5.0 percent; down 0.1 percent from the May 2005 rate and down 0.6 percent from June 2004.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June 2005 was 7.5 percent; down 0.2 percent from the May 2005 rate of 7.7 percent, and 1.1 percent lower than the 8.6 percent rate in June 2004.

Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 6,000 to 301,500. A total of 278,900 residents were employed and 22,600 were unemployed in June 2005. The District had a 6,300 increase in the number of employed residents along with a 300 decrease in the number of unemployed residents which was responsible for the 0.2 percent drop in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

From June 2004 to June 2005, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 700 as the number of employed residents increased by 3,800 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 3,100. The District’s June 2005 unemployment rate was 1.1 percent lower than the 8.6 percent rate in June 2004.

The June 2005 national unemployment rate of 5.2 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was 0.3 percent higher than the rate in May 2005 and 0.6 percent lower than the rate in June 2004.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 2,800 in June 2005. The private sector increased by 600 jobs and the public sector registered a 2,200 job gain. In the private sector, professional and business services added 2,600 jobs; other services increased by 700 jobs; natural resources and construction and financial activities each gained 400 jobs; information added 300 jobs; and trade, transportation and utilities gained 200 jobs. Educational and health services lost 4,000 jobs while manufacturing and leisure and hospitality were unchanged over the month. In the public sector, the federal government added 2,400 jobs and the District government gained 400 jobs, while transportation shed 600 jobs.

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 6,000 jobs. Gains were in the private sector, which increased by 6,100 jobs while the public sector lost 100 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in leisure and hospitality (up by 2,800 jobs), professional and business services (up by 2,400 jobs), other services (up by 1,700 jobs), natural resources and construction (up by 400 jobs), financial activities (up by 300 jobs) and manufacturing (up by 100 jobs). Losses occurred in information and educational and health services (each down by 700 jobs) and trade, transportation and utilities (down by 200 jobs). In the public sector, the federal government lost 1,100 jobs, the District government gained 1,700 jobs and transportation lost 700 jobs.

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

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 22,300 in June 2005 as employment rose by 18,400 and the number of unemployed increased by 4,000. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.9 percent in June, was two-tenths of a percent higher than the rate in May 2005.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 70,800. With 3,900 fewer unemployed division residents, the division’s civilian labor force rose by 66,900. The metropolitan division’s June 2005 unemployment rate of 3.9 percent was three-tenths of a percent lower than the 4.2 percent rate in June 2004.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in June 2005 by 16,600. The private sector gained 17,700 jobs while the public sector lost 1,100 jobs over the month. Within the private sector, gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 6,700 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 6,500 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 4,400 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 2,100 jobs), financial activities (up by 1,300 jobs), other services (up by 1,200 jobs), and manufacturing and information (each up by 400 jobs). Educational and health services lost 5,300 jobs. In the public sector, the federal government added 3,800 jobs while state government lost 4,300 jobs and local government shed 600 jobs.

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 68,300 jobs. The private sector gained 62,200 were registered in professional and business services (up by 21,100 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 13,200 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 9,800 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 7,000 jobs), educational and health services (up by 5,100 jobs), other services (up by 4,300 jobs), financial activities (up by 2,100 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 500 jobs). Information lost 900 jobs. In government, state government gained 3,800 jobs; the federal government added 2,400 jobs and local government lost 100 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 23,300 in June 2005 as employment rose by 17,200 and the number of unemployed increased by 6,100. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.3 percent in June, was two-tenths of a percent higher than the rate in May 2005.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 81,300.   With 800 fewer unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 80,500. The suburban ring’s June 2005 unemployment rate of 3.3 percent was two-tenths of a percent lower than the rate in June 2004.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the civilian labor force increased by 29,300 in June 2005. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 23,500, and the number of unemployed residents increased by 5,800. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.8 percent in June 2005 was two-tenths of a percent higher than the rate in May 2005.

Compared to June 2004, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 81,200. Employment increased by 85,100 and unemployment decreased by 3,900. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s June 2005 unemployment rate was 0.2 percent lower than the June 2004 rate of 4.0 percent.



Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

June 2005 wage and salary employment estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area will be released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on August 3, 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).