Overall unemployment rate moved up to 5.6% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 12,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in July 2021.

Total employment in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV market rose by 8,865 jobs in June and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 60 bps to 5.6%. The national unemployment rate increased by 60 bps over the same time to 6.1%.

  • Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV unemployment rate is 49 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 310 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in June versus prior month by 2.3% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Unemployment June 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs grew by 0.5% . Key sectors include:

  • Business Services: 780,000; +3,100
  • Government: 708,700; -600
  • Education & Healthcare: 426,800; -6,800
  • Transportation & Utilities: 392,900; +3,300
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 261,000; +12,000
  • Other Jobs: 192,800; +2,600
  • Construction, Mining: 164,400; +3,100
  • Financial Services: 152,600; +400
  • IT & Development: 72,100; -300
  • Manufacturing: 55,500; no change
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Unemployment by Industry June 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through June 2021 (Data published July 2021 and reports created on July 28, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.