District of Columbia Unemployment

According to the BLS current population survey (CPS), the unemployment rate for District of Columbia fell 0.1 percentage points in January 2020 to 5.2%. The state unemployment rate was 1.6 percentage points higher than the national rate for the month. The unemployment rate in District of Columbia peaked in June 2011 at 10.5% and is now 5.3 percentage points lower. You can also see District of Columbia unemployment compared to other states.

Unemployment Rate	January 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
National	3.6%	+0.1	-0.4
District of Columbia	5.2%	-0.1	-0.6

Note: All comparisons are made with January data as February state level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: District of Columbia, National

Note: Recessions shown in gray

District of Columbia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in District of Columbia peaked in June 2011 at 36,759. There are now 15,180 fewer people unemployed in the state. District of Columbia job growth data is also available.

Unemployed Persons	January 2020	Month/Month	Year/Year
District of Columbia	21,579	-300	-1,909

Number of Unemployed Persons

District of Columbia Unemployment History

Date	National Unemployment Rate	District of Columbia Unemployment Rate	District of Columbia Unemployed
February 2020	3.5%	—	—
January 2020	3.6%	5.2%	21,579
December 2019	3.5%	5.3%	21,879
November 2019	3.5%	5.3%	21,843
October 2019	3.6%	5.3%	21,769
September 2019	3.5%	5.3%	21,728
August 2019	3.7%	5.3%	21,775
July 2019	3.7%	5.4%	21,943
June 2019	3.7%	5.4%	22,238
May 2019	3.6%	5.5%	22,634
April 2019	3.6%	5.6%	23,039
March 2019	3.8%	5.7%	23,356