(Washington, DC)  The Department of Employment Services (DOES) announced today that the Washington Metropolitan Division’s not seasonally adjusted July 2006 unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, up 0.2 percent from the June 2006 rate.  The July 2006 rate was equal to the rate in July 2005. Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Rate Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth  Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth Washington Metropolitan Division Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment Rate The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 24,200 in July 2006, as employment increased by 19,800, and unemployment increased by 4,300.  Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division rose by 49,500.  With 200 more unemployed division residents, the division’s civilian labor force rose by 49,800.  The metropolitan division’s July 2006 unemployment rate of 3.3 percent was unchanged from the rate in July 2005.    Washington Metropolitan Division Job Growth Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased over the month by 3,400.  The private sector increased by 200 jobs and the public sector lost 3,900 jobs.  Within the private sector, gains were registered in natural resources, mining and construction and professional and business services (up by 1,500 jobs each), financial activities (up by 900 jobs), and other services (up by 500 jobs). Private sector losses were noted in educational and health services (down by 2,700 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (down by 600 jobs), leisure and hospitality (down by 400 jobs), manufacturing (down by 300 jobs), and information (down by 200 jobs). In the public sector, the federal government gained 1,000 jobs; state government added 8,200 jobs; and local government lost 12,800 jobs.     During the past twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division gained 60,400 jobs.  The private sector gained 57,700 jobs and the public sector added 2,700 jobs.  Private sector gains were registered in professional and business services (up by 24,900 jobs), educational and health services (up by 11,700 jobs), trade, transportation, and utilities (up by 8,700 jobs), leisure and hospitality (up by 4,500 jobs), natural resources, mining and construction (up by 3,700 jobs), financial activities (up by 2,400 jobs), other services (up by 2,300 jobs), and manufacturing (up by 200 jobs). Information lost 700 jobs.  In government, local government gained 3,800 jobs and state government added 600 jobs while the federal government lost 1,700 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 31,600 in July 2006 as employment rose by 26,500 and the number unemployed increased by 5,000.  The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 3.2 percent in July, was up 0.2 percent from the rate in June 2006.   Over the last 12 months, the number of employed residents in the suburban ring rose by 68,200.   With 1,900 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force rose by 70,200.  The suburban ring’s July 2006 unemployment rate of 3.2 percent was equal to the rate in July 2005. For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of persons in the civilian labor force increased by 34,100 in July 2006.  The number of employed residents in the metropolitan area rose by 27,300, and the number of unemployed residents increased by 6,800.  The metropolitan area’s unemployment rate at 3.5 percent in July 2006 was up 0.2 percent from the rate in June 2006. Compared to July 2005, the metropolitan area’s civilian labor force rose by 66,700.  Employment increased by 65,200 and unemployment increased by 1,500.  The Washington Metropolitan Area’s July 2006 unemployment rate was unchanged from the July 2005 rate of 3.5 percent.      Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth July 2006 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 30, 2006.  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).