District of Columbia's Unemployment Rate Drops to 6.1 Percent - Releases

(Washington, DC) Today Gregg Irish, Director of the Department of Employment Services (DOES), announced that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted September 2005 unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, down 0.3 percent from the August 2005 rate of 6.4 percent. The September 2005 rate was 2.4 percent lower than the rate in September 2004.

“The September decrease in the unemployment rate marks the fourth consecutive month with increased employment and decreased unemployment among District residents. Compared to a year earlier, there were 7,100 more residents employed and 7,100 fewer unemployed,” said Irish.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in September 2005 was 5.1 percent; up 0.2 percent from the August 2005 rate and 0.3 percent lower than the September 2004, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September 2005 was 5.7 percent; down 0.4 percent from the August 2005 rate of 6.1 percent and 2.4 percent lower than the 8.1 percent rate in September 2004.

Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 5,800 to 297,700. A total of 280,600 residents were employed and 17,100 were unemployed in September 2005. A 4,400 decrease in the number of employed residents along with a 1,400 drop in the number of unemployed residents was responsible for the 0.4 percent drop in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

From September 2004 to September 2005, the District’s civilian labor force increased by 700 as the number of employed residents increased by 7,600 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 6,900. The District’s September 2005 unemployment rate was 2.4 percent lower than the 8.1 percent rate in September 2004.

The September 2005 national unemployment rate of 4.8 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was down 0.1 percent from the rate in August 2005 and 0.3 percent lower than the rate in September 2004.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs decreased by 5,500 in September 2005. The private sector gained 4,100 jobs while the public sector decreased by 9,600 jobs. In the private sector, educational and health services gained 4,800 jobs; leisure and hospitality increased by 400 jobs; and information added 100 jobs. Professional and business services declined by 600 jobs; financial activities lost 300 jobs; other services declined by 200 jobs; and natural resources and construction declined by 100 jobs. Manufacturing and trade, transportation and utilities were unchanged over the month. In the public sector, the District government declined by 9,500 jobs; the federal government shed 200 jobs; and transportation added 100 jobs.

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 9,900 jobs. The private sector increased by 10,100 jobs and the public sector lost 200 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 3,700 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 3,200 jobs), other services (up by 1,300 jobs), educational and health services (up by 900 jobs), financial activities (up by 500 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (up by 400 jobs), and natural resources and construction (up by 100 jobs). Manufacturing and information were unchanged over the year. In the public sector, the District government gained 600 jobs while the federal government lost 200 jobs and transportation lost 600 jobs.

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

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 17,500 in September 2005 as employment fell by 9,500 and the number unemployed decreased by 7,900. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.3 percent in September, was 0.3 percent lower than the rate in August 2005.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 87,300. With 4,400 fewer unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 82,900. The metropolitan division’s September 2005 unemployment rate of 3.3 percent was 0.3 percent lower than the 3.6 percent rate in September 2004.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in September 2005 by 3,600. The private sector decreased by 1,400 jobs while the public sector gained 5,000 jobs. Within the private sector, losses were registered in leisure and hospitality (down by 4,900 jobs), professional and business services (down by 1,800 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (down by 1,400 jobs), financial activities (down by 800 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (down by 700 jobs), information (down by 600 jobs), other services (down by 400 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 300 jobs). Educational and health services gained 9,500 jobs over the month. In the public sector, the federal government lost 1,700 jobs and state government shed 4,300 jobs, while local government gained 11,000 jobs.

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 66,400 jobs. The private sector gained 59,800 jobs and the public sector added 6,600 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 17,700 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 10,900 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 9,500 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 7,300 jobs), educational and health services (up by 5,900 jobs), other services (up by 5,200 jobs), financial activities (up by 2,900 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 700 jobs). Information lost 300 jobs. In government, state government gained 4,200 jobs; local government added 3,300 jobs and the federal government shed 900 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 decreased by 16,500 in September 2005 as employment fell by 7,300 and the number unemployed decreased by 9,200. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.9 percent in September, was 0.3 percent lower than the rate in August 2005.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 97,000.   With 2,900 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 99,900. The suburban ring’s September 2005 unemployment rate of 2.9 percent equaled the rate in September 2004.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the civilian labor force decreased by 22,300 in September 2005. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area declined by 11,700, and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 10,600. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.2 percent in September 2005 was 0.3 percent lower than the rate in August 2005.

Compared to September 2004, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 100,600. Employment increased by 104,600 and unemployment decreased by 4,000. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s September 2005 unemployment rate was 0.3 percent lower than the September 2004 rate of 3.5 percent.



Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

September 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 November 2, 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).