16/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 17/08/2024 12:33
Washington, DC - The District of Columbia's Department of Employment Services reported today that the seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in July 2024, up 0.1 percentage point from the revised June 2024 rate of 5.4 percent.
The District's preliminary July job estimates show an increase of 8,600 jobs, for a total of 781,800 jobs in the District. The private sector decreased by 2,000 jobs. The public sector increased by 10,600 jobs. The numbers are drawn from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through its monthly survey of the District of Columbia's employers.
"The Bowser Administration remains committed to its investment in the District's residents through quality training, workforce development, and pathways to in-demand careers," said DOES Director Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes. "Providing Washingtonians with resources, access, and support across all eight wards remains our priority."
The number of employed District residents decreased by 800 from 386,400 in June 2024 to 385,600 in July 2024. The civilian labor force for the District decreased by 400 from 408,400 in June 2024 to 408,000 in July 2024. The labor force participation rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point from 72.6 percent in June 2024 to 72.5 percent in July 2024.
Employment Overview
Labor Force Overview
The number of unemployed was 18,900, and the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent.
NOTES: The July 2024 final and August 2024 preliminary unemployment rates will be released on Friday September 20, 2024. Historical jobs and labor force estimates for the District of Columbia and detailed labor market information is available at:
Technical Notes: Estimates of industry employment and unemployment levels are determined through the use of two different monthly surveys.
Industry employment data is derived from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, a monthly survey of business establishments conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the US Department of Labor, which provides estimates of employment, hours, and earnings data broken down by industry for the nation as a whole, all states, and most major metropolitan areas (often referred to as the "establishment" survey).
Resident employment and unemployment data are mainly derived from the District's portion of the national Current Population Survey (CPS), a household survey conducted each month by the US Census Bureau under contract with BLS, which provides input to the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program (often referred to as the "household" survey).
Both industry and household estimates are revised each month based on additional information from updated survey reports compiled by BLS. In addition, these estimates are benchmarked (revised) annually based on actual counts from the District's Unemployment Compensation Law administrative records and other data.