Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 4.3 percent

(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia’s Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary April job estimates show an increase of 5,300 jobs for a total of 1,156,800 jobs in the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division. The private sector increased by 5,600 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 300 jobs.  The Washington, DC- MD Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted April 2025 unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, which was 0.2 percentage points lower than the revised March 2025 unemployment rate of 4.5 percent.  The Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division’s unemployment rate was 3.4 percent in April 2024, which was 0.9 percentage points lower than the current unemployment rate of 4.3 percent.

Over-the-Month Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data
 
The total civilian labor force in the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division for April 2025 was 1,019,200, of which 975,200 were employed and 43,900 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate was 4.3 percent.  The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,128,000, of which 3,031,800 were employed and 96,200 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 3.1 percent.  In the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes the Washington Metropolitan DC-MD Division, the Arlington- Alexandria-Reston, VA-WV Metropolitan Division, and the Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, Maryland Metropolitan Division, the civilian labor force was 3,546,800, of which 3,426,400 were employed and 120,400 were unemployed.  The unemployment rate for this area was 3.4 percent.  For the month the unemployment rates for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division and the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area was 0.2 percentage points lower while the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring decreased by 0.1 percentage point.

Over-the-Year Area Civilian Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data

The Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division’s civilian labor force increased over the year by 6,700, while the number of employed decreased by 2,600, and the number of unemployed increased by 9,300.  The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring decreased over the year by 900, while the number of employed decreased by 26,300, and the number of unemployed increased by 25,400.  Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force increased by 3,300, while the number of employed decreased by 27,800 and the number of unemployed increased by 31,100.  For the year, the unemployment rates for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division and the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area increased by 0.9 percentage points, while the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring increased by 0.8 percentage points.

Metropolitan Division’s Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 5,300 jobs. The private sector increased by 5,600 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 300 jobs over the month. The private sector had three gains over the month. Job gains were registered in Mining Logging & Construction (900 jobs); Leisure and Hospitality (6,100 jobs) and Other Services (1,800 jobs). The private sector had four losses over the month. Job losses were registered in Trade Transportation & Utilities (-500 jobs); Information (-300 jobs); Financial Activities (-100 jobs); and Professional and Business Services (-2,300 jobs). The Private sector had two that remained the same, Manufacturing and Private Education and Health Services. Government overall decreased by 300 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased by 800 jobs while the state government decreased by 100 and local government increased by 600 jobs.    
                                                                               
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased by 8,700 jobs. The private sector increased by 7,600 jobs.  The public sector increased by 1,100 jobs. Job increases were registered in Manufacturing increased (100 jobs); Mining, Logging and Construction (3,800 jobs); Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (1,100 jobs); Private Education and Health Services (3,100 jobs); Leisure and Hospitality (4,100 jobs) and Other Services (600 jobs). Job decreases were registered in Information (-800 jobs); Financial Activities (-200 jobs) and Professional and Business Services (-4,200 jobs). Government overall increased 1,100 jobs. The Federal government decreased 2,600 jobs. The State government increased 3,900 jobs and the local government decreased 200 jobs. 

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Explanations

Estimated Labor Force and Employment for the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division includes: The District of Columbia, and MD (Charles County, MD and Prince George’s County, MD).

The estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area include Principal Cities: Washington, DC; Arlington, VA; Alexandria, VA; Frederick, MD; Gaithersburg, MD; Bethesda, MD; Rockville, MD; Reston, VA; McLean, VA; North Bethesda, MD; Arlington-Alexandria-Reston, VA-WV Metropolitan Division Arlington County, VA; Clarke County, VA; Culpeper County, VA; Fairfax County, VA; Fauquier County, VA; Loudoun County, VA; Prince William County, VA; Rappahannock County, VA; Spotsylvania County, VA; Stafford County, VA; Warren County, VA; Alexandria city, VA; Fairfax city, VA; Falls Church city, VA; Fredericksburg city, VA; Manassas city, VA; Manassas Park city, VA; Jefferson County, WV; Frederick-Gaithersburg-Bethesda, MD Metropolitan Division Frederick County, Montgomery County; Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division District of Columbia, DC; Charles County, MD; Prince George's County, MD.

Data reflects the 2024 annual benchmark revisions.