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District of Columbia Economy Adds 3,800 Jobs in April

Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Washington, DC – The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services reported today that the preliminary April job estimates show an increase of 3,800 jobs, for a total of 762,900 jobs in the District. The private sector increased by 3,600 jobs, while the public sector payrolls increased by 200 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 District’s seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in April. The number of unemployed District residents was down 500 from 29,500 in March 2015 to 29,000 in April 2015. 
 
Based on more complete reporting from employers, previously released March estimates were revised downward to show an over-the-month (February-March) total non-farm employment increase of 600 jobs. The March revised unemployment rate is 7.7 percent which is unchanged from the March preliminary rate.
 
Employment Overview
  • Trade, Transportation, and Utilities had no over-the-month job change, after an increase of 200 jobs in March. With employment at 31,500, jobs are up by 1,100 or 3.6 percent from a year ago.
  • Professional and Business Services increased by 1,100 jobs, after an increase of 1,100 jobs in March. With employment at 162,400, jobs are up by 6,300 or 4.0 percent from a year ago.
  • Leisure and Hospitality increased by 2,700 jobs, after an increase of 300 jobs in March. With employment at 70,700, jobs are down by 900 or -1.3 percent over the year.
  • Financial Activities had no over-the-month job change, after an increase of 200 jobs in the prior month. With employment at 30,600, jobs are up by 600 or 2.0 percent from one year ago.
  • Educational and Health Services decreased by 800 jobs, after a decrease of 1,300 jobs in the prior month. With employment at 129,300, jobs are down by 800 or -0.6 percent from a year ago.
  • Other Services increased by 100 jobs, after an increase of 200 jobs the prior month. With employment at 70,800, jobs are up by 700 or 1.0 percent from a year ago.
  • Construction increased by 500 jobs, after having no change in jobs in March. With employment at 14,400, jobs are up by 500 or 3.6 percent from a year ago.
  • Information had no over-the-month change in jobs, after a decrease of 200 jobs in the prior month. With employment at 16,900, jobs are down by 300 or -1.7 percent from one year ago.
  • Manufacturing had no over-the-month change in jobs, after having no change in jobs in the prior month. With employment at 1,000, there was no change in jobs from one year ago.
Labor Force Overview
  • The number of employed District residents increased by 1,500 over the month to 356,200. The civilian labor force increased by 1,000 to 385,200.
  • One year ago, total employment was 343,900 and the civilian labor force was 372,900.  The number of unemployed was 28,900, and the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent.
NOTES: The April 2015 final and May 2015 preliminary unemployment rate and survey of jobs data for the District will be released on Friday, June 19, 2015. Historical jobs and labor force estimates for the District of Columbia and detailed labor market information is available at: http://does.dc.gov/page/labor-statistics
Technical Notes: Estimates of industry employment and unemployment levels are arrived through the use of two different monthly surveys. 
 
Industry employment data are derived through 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.
 
Data reflects 2014 annual benchmark revisions.
 
Industry employment data is not seasonally adjusted.