Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, District of Columbia Unemployment
The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Washington rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 2.5%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 2.5 percentage points lower than the District of Columbia rate. The unemployment rate in Washington peaked in April 2020 at 9.8% and is now 7.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.4% in August 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.1 percentage points. You can also compare Washington unemployment with unemployment in other cities.
| Unemployment Rate | September 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National | 3.8% | 0.0 | +0.3 |
| District of Columbia | 5.0% | 0.0 | +0.9 |
| Washington | 2.5% | +0.1 | -0.5 |
Unemployment Rate: Washington, District of Columbia, National
Note: Recessions shown in gray.
Washington, District of Columbia Unemployed
The number of people unemployed in Washington peaked in April 2020 at 329,638. There are now 242,838 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 85,440 in August 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,360. Washington employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Washington, District of Columbia) is also available.
| Unemployed Persons | September 2023 | Month/Month | Year/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 86,800 | +1,360 | -15,510 |
Number of Unemployed Persons
Washington, District of Columbia Unemployment History
| Date | National Unemployment Rate |
District of Columbia Unemployment Rate |
Washington Unemployment Rate |
Washington Unemployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2023 |
3.9% | 5.0% | — | — |
| September 2023 |
3.8% | 5.0% | 2.5% | 86,800 |
| August 2023 |
3.8% | 5.0% | 2.4% | 85,440 |
| July 2023 |
3.5% | 5.0% | 2.5% | 86,008 |
| June 2023 |
3.6% | 5.1% | 2.6% | 89,693 |
| May 2023 |
3.7% | 5.1% | 2.7% | 93,828 |
| April 2023 |
3.4% | 5.0% | 2.7% | 95,280 |
| March 2023 |
3.5% | 4.8% | 2.8% | 97,374 |
| February 2023 |
3.6% | 4.7% | 2.9% | 99,506 |
| January 2023 |
3.4% | 4.5% | 2.9% | 100,972 |
| December 2022 |
3.5% | 4.2% | 3.0% | 101,811 |
| November 2022 |
3.6% | 4.2% | 3.0% | 101,879 |
1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
