DOES Announces October 2005 Unemployment Rate of 6.1 Percent - Releases

(Washington, DC) Today, the Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced that the District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted October 2005 unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, down 0.1 percent from the revised September 2005 rate of 6.2 percent. The October 2005 rate was 2.5 percent lower than the rate in October 2004.

“The slight October decrease in the unemployment rate was the result of a 500 reduction in the number of unemployed District residents and a 3,700 contraction in the labor force. Compared to a year earlier, there were 3,500 more residents employed and 7,900 fewer unemployed,” said Director Irish.

The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in October 2005 was 5.0 percent; down 0.1 percent from the September 2005 rate and 0.5 percent lower than the October 2004, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.

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

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2005 was 5.8 percent; unchanged from the revised September 2005 rate and 2.7 percent lower than the 8.5 percent rate in October 2004.

Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 3,100 to 294,400. A total of 277,300 residents were employed and 17,100 were unemployed in October 2005. A 3,000 decrease in the number of employed residents along with a drop of 100 unemploy-ed residents resulted in “no change” in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

From October 2004 to October 2005, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 5,400 as the number of employed residents increased by 3,000 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 8,400. The District’s October 2005 unemployment rate was 2.7 percent lower than the 8.5 percent rate in October 2004.

The October 2005 national unemployment rate of 4.6 percent (not seasonally adjusted) was down 0.2 percent from the rate in September 2005 and 0.5 percent lower than the rate in October 2004.

District of Columbia Job Growth

The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 4,700 in October 2005. The private sector gained 4,500 jobs and the public sector added 200 jobs. In the private sector, educational and health services gained 3,200 jobs; leisure and hospitality increased by 800 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities gained 300 jobs; professional and business services increased by 200 jobs; and information and other services added 100 jobs each. Natural resources and construction and financial activities lost 100 jobs each. Manufacturing was unchanged over the month. In the public sector, the District government increased by 300 jobs; the federal government shed 300 jobs; and transportation added 200 jobs.

In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 10,900 jobs. The private sector increased by 11,000 jobs and the public sector lost 100 jobs. The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 4,200 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 3,000 jobs), educational and health services and other services (up by 1,300 jobs each), information (up by 500 jobs), financial activities (up by 400 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (up by 300 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 100 jobs). Natural resources and construction lost 100 jobs over the year. In the public sector, the District government gained 1,000 jobs while the federal government lost 700 jobs and transportation lost 400 jobs.

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

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 12,900 in October 2005 as employment rose by 16,300 and the number unemployed decreased by 3,400. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.2 percent in October, was 0.2 percent lower than the rate in September 2005.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 82,000. With 7,900 fewer unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 74,100. The metropolitan division’s October 2005 unemployment rate of 3.2 percent was 0.5 percent lower than the 3.7 percent rate in October 2004.

Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in October 2005 by 13,300. The private sector increased by 9,200 jobs and the public sector gained 4,100 jobs. Within the private sector, gains were registered in educational and health services (up by 4,600 jobs), professional and business services (up by 4,400 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 3,700 jobs), and other services (up by 200 jobs). Losses were noted in leisure and hospitality (down by 2,100 jobs), information (down by 600 jobs), financial activities (down by 500 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (down by 300 jobs), and manufacturing (down by 200 jobs). In the public sector, local government gained 3,300 jobs and state government added 1,100 jobs while the federal government lost 300 jobs.

During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 67,700 jobs. The private sector gained 61,800 jobs and the public sector added 5,900 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 18,800 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 10,200 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 9,600 jobs), educational and health services (up by 7,300 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 7,200 jobs), other services (up by 4,600 jobs), financial activities (up by 2,900 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 1,200 jobs). Information was unchanged over the year. In government, local government added 4,000 jobs and state government gained 3,100 jobs while the federal government shed 1,200 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 October 2005 as employment rose by 26,600 and the number unemployed decreased by 3,200. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 2.8 percent in October, was 0.2 percent lower than the rate in September 2005.

Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 98,000.   With 300 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 98,200. The suburban ring’s October 2005 unemployment rate of 2.8 percent was 0.1 percent lower than the rate in October 2004.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the civilian labor force increased by 20,200 in October 2005. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area increased by 23,600, and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 3,300. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.1 percent in October 2005 was 0.1 percent lower than the rate in September 2005.

Compared to October 2004, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 92,800. Employment increased by 101,000 and unemployment decreased by 8,100. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s October 2005 unemployment rate was 0.4 percent lower than the October 2004 rate of 3.5 percent.



Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

October 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 30, 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).