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The District's Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged in November
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November 2005 Rate Holds at 6.1 Percent
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(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted November 2005 unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, unchanged from October 2005. However, the November 2005 rate was 2.6 percent lower than in November 2004.
“While there were no changes to the November unemployment rate, it nevertheless shows marked improvement, over the year, in labor market conditions for District residents,” said Gregg Irish, director of the Department of Employment Services. “Compared to a year earlier, there were 1,400 more residents employed and 8,300 fewer unemployed.”
The seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate in November 2005 was 5.0 percent; unchanged from the October 2005 rate and 0.4 percent lower than the November 2004, seasonally adjusted, national unemployment rate.
District of Columbia Civilian Labor Force, Employment, Unemployment and Unemployment Rate
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November 2005 was 6.0 percent; up 0.2 percent from the October 2005 rate, and 2.8 percent lower than the 8.8 percent rate last November.
Over the month, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 2,500 to 292,000. A total of 274,600 residents were employed and 17,400 were unemployed in November 2005. A 2,700 decrease in the number of employed residents along with a 200 rise in the number of unemployed residents resulted in a 0.2 percent increase in the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.
From November 2004 to November 2005, the District’s civilian labor force decreased by 8,600 as the number of employed residents increased by 500 and the number of unemployed residents decreased by 9,100.
 
District of Columbia Job Growth
The number of District wage and salary jobs increased by 2,300 in November 2005. The private sector gained 1,700 jobs and the public sector added 600 jobs. In the private sector, educational and health services gained 1,000 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities gained 500 jobs; other services increased by 400 jobs; and professional and business services increased by 300 jobs. Information lost 400 jobs and financial activities lost 100 jobs. Natural resources and construction, manufacturing and leisure and hospitality were unchanged over the month. In the public sector, the District government increased by 500 jobs; the federal government added 100 jobs; and transportation was unchanged.
In the last 12 months, the District gained a total of 11,700 jobs. The private sector accounted for the increase. The private sector growth occurred in professional and business services (up by 4,400 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 2,600 jobs), educational and health services (up by 1,900 jobs), other services (up by 1,500 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (up by 700 jobs), financial activities (up by 500 jobs), and information (up by 100 jobs). Natural resources and construction and manufacturing were unchanged over the year. In the public sector, the District government gained 400 jobs while transportation lost 400 jobs and the federal government was unchanged.
Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force, Employment, and Unemployment Rate
The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 4,800 in November 2005 as employment fell by 7,100 and the number unemployed increased by 2,300. The unemployment rate in the Washington Metropolitan Division, at 3.3 percent in November, was 0.1 percent higher than the rate in October 2005.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 73,000. With 8,300 fewer unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force rose by 64,700. The metropolitan division’s November 2005 unemployment rate of 3.3 percent was 0.5 percent lower than the 3.8 percent rate in November 2004.
Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth
Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month in November 2005 by 13,800. The private sector increased by 10,100 jobs and the public sector gained 3,700 jobs. Within the private sector, gains were registered in trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 8,700 jobs), educational and health services (up by 2,400 jobs), professional and business services (up by 1,100 jobs), Manufacturing (up by 400 jobs), and financial activities (up by 100 jobs). Losses were noted in leisure and hospitality (down by 1,200 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (down by 900 jobs), information (down by 300 jobs), and other services (down by 200 jobs). In the public sector, state and local government gained 1,600 jobs each and the federal government added 500 jobs.
During the past 12 months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 72,200 jobs. The private sector gained 63,600 jobs and the public sector added 8,600 jobs. Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 17,800 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 11,100 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 10,400 jobs), educational and health services (up by 8,000 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 7,500 jobs), other services (up by 4,200 jobs), financial activities (up by 3,300 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 1,600 jobs). Information lost 300 jobs over the year. In government, state government gained 4,900 jobs and local government added 3,800 jobs while the federal government shed 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 decreased by 5,500 in November 2005 as employment fell by 9,400 and the number unemployed increased by 3,900. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.0 percent in November, was 0.2 percent higher than the rate in October 2005.
Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 86,600. With 1,000 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 87,600. The suburban ring’s November 2005 unemployment rate of 3.0 percent was unchanged from the rate in November 2004.
For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the civilian labor force decreased by 8,000 in November 2005. The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area decreased by 12,100, and the number of unemployed residents increased by 4,100. The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.3 percent in November 2005 was 0.2 percent higher than the rate in October 2005.
Compared to November 2004, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 79,000. Employment increased by 87,100 and unemployment decreased by 8,100. The Washington Metropolitan Area’s November 2005 unemployment rate was 0.4 percent lower than the November 2004 rate of 3.7 percent.
Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth
November 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 December 28, 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).
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