Jobs take a dip in the District of Columbia as unemployment inches up, according to new data from the Department of Employment Services. In January, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate hit 5.0 percent, a slight uptick from December's 4.9 percent, according to the Department of Employment Services. District employers slashed 9,900 jobs, bringing the total to 759,200, with losses spread across both the private sector, which shed 9,600 jobs, and the public sector, down by 300 jobs, figures from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics showed.
Despite the job losses, the number of employed District residents actually increased by 1,100, climbing to 383,200 in January as the civilian labor force also grew, the labor force participation rate ticking up to 72.1 percent, suggesting more people were hunting for jobs. "Our investment in quality training, and workforce development remains our priority," Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes, the DOES Director, highlighted the administration's commitment to connecting residents with careers.
Sector-wise, the picture was mixed with the Leisure and Hospitality sector losing 4,300 jobs, and Professional and Business Services tumbling down by 2,600 positions, other sectors like Financial Activities and Information also reported declines by 700 and 200 respectively; however, the Educational and Health Services sector showed resilience, adding 1,800 jobs over the year.
Diving into the details, some industries like Manufacturing remained stable with a year-over-year job count constant at 1,000, while sectors such as Mining, Logging, and Construction witnessed a decline in the workforce, dropping 300 jobs last month after a decrease of 600 jobs the month before, this sector alone shrunk by 4.64 percent from the previous year. As residents and officials alike digest these numbers, it's clear that while there are patches of growth, the District's economy faces winding roads ahead.
Both the industry employment data and the statistics on resident employment and unemployment are revised each month to reflect more accurate survey reports compiled by the BLS. The methodology behind these figures includes monthly surveys of business establishments and a household survey conducted by the US Census Bureau, both providing critical data to inform local labor market conditions. For a detailed breakdown of the District's labor market, interested parties can find it on the Department of Employment Services' website.
