Overall unemployment rate moved down to 4.9% with the biggest shift in Government, which lost 13,100 roles, based on the most recently available information published in September 2021.
Total employment in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV market declined by 42,241 jobs in August and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 4.9%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 38 bps over the same time to 5.3%.
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV unemployment rate is 39 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
- Unemployment in the market is 290 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
- Average wages (per hour) grew in August versus prior month by 4.7% and are up compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.3%. Key sectors include:
- Business Services: 789,300; +300
- Government: 674,400; -13,100
- Education & Healthcare: 431,000; +2,900
- Transportation & Utilities: 389,900; -4,300
- Restaurants & Hotels: 277,300; +2,000
- Other Jobs: 196,100; +2,100
- Construction, Mining: 162,900; -700
- Financial Services: 154,800; +1,700
- IT & Development: 73,300; -300
- Manufacturing: 55,900; -200
Employment Change by Key Sector
Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through August 2021 (Data published September 2021 and reports created on September 29, 2021). Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.
Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.