Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 3.3 Percent

(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia's Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary May job estimates show an increase 1,500 jobs for a total of 2,700,900 jobs in the Washington Metropolitan Division. The private sector increased by 2,300 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 800 jobs. The Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted May 2022 unemployment rate was 3.3 percent, which was 0.3 percentage points higher than the revised April 2022 rate of 3.0 percent. The Washington Metropolitan Division's unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in May 2021, which was 1.7 percentage points higher than the current unemployment rate of 3.3 percent.

Over-the-Month Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
The total civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division for May 2022 was 2,689,000, of which 2,599,500 were employed and 89,600 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 3.3 percent. The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 2,996,100, of which 2,902,200 were employed and 93,900 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 3.1 percent. In the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the Washington Metropolitan Division and the Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, Maryland Metropolitan Division, the civilian labor force was 3,377,800, of which 3,265,400 were employed and 112,400 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 3.3 percent. For the month, the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Division, the Suburban Ring and the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area increased by 0.3 percentage points from the previous month's rate.
Over-the-Year Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
The Washington Metropolitan Division's civilian labor force increased over the year by 25,100, while the number of employed increased by 68,600, and the number of unemployed decreased by 43,400. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring increased over the year by 29,200, while the number of employed increased by 81,600, and the number of unemployed decreased by 52,400. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area's civilian labor force increased by 33,000, while the number of employed increased by 92,000 and the number of unemployed decreased by 59,000. For the year, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 1.7 percentage points, while the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring decreased by 1.8 percentage points from a year ago.
Metropolitan Division's Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 1,500 jobs. The private sector increased by 2,300 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 800 jobs over-the-month. Four private sectors had over the month job gains. Job gains were registered in mining, logging, and construction (900 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (700 jobs); leisure and hospitality (6,800 jobs) and other services (800 jobs). Four private sectors had over-the-month job losses. The job decreases were registered in; information (-500 jobs); financial activities (-900 jobs); professional and business services (-3,900 jobs) and education and health services (-1,600 jobs). Government overall decreased by 800 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased 1,800 jobs, state government decreased by 600 jobs and the local government increased by 1,600 jobs.
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 77,700 jobs. The private sector increased by 76,400 jobs, while the public sector increased by 1,300 jobs. Job increases were registered in mining, logging & construction (1,000 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (8,500 jobs); professional and business services (8,200 jobs); educational and health services (9,800 jobs); leisure and hospitality services (49,100 jobs) and other services (3,600 jobs). The private sector loss was registered in manufacturing (-400 jobs); information (-100 jobs) financial activities (-3,300 jobs). Government overall increased by 1,300 jobs. Federal government shows a decrease of 4,100 jobs, State government decreased 700 jobs and the local government increased 6,100 jobs.
Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Explanations
Estimated Labor Force and Employment for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division includes: The District of Columbia, Virginia Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park and the Virginia Counties of Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudon, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren, Rappahannock and Culpeper; the Maryland Counties of Calvert, Charles, and Prince Georges; and the West Virginia County of Jefferson.

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).
Data reflects the 2021 annual benchmark revisions.