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District of Columbia

aerial view of Washington, D.C.

Payroll employment in the District of Columbia declined by 100 jobs (0.0 percent) in March. The unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent.

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Labor market icon showing three people Labor Market Conditions


  • "The District of Columbia's labor market softened slightly in March as total employment fell by 100 jobs and the unemployment rate edged up; however, the labor force grew modestly compared to the prior month." — Joseph Mengedoth
  • Payroll employment in the District of Columbia declined by 100 jobs (0.0 percent), on net, in March. Small job gains in several sectors were offset by a sizeable decline of 1,400 jobs in the education and health services sector and a decline of 300 jobs in leisure and hospitality.
  • On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment in the District of Columbia increased by 3,600 jobs (0.5 percent), on net. The most jobs were added over the year in government (2,600 jobs), education and health services (1,300 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (1,000 jobs).
  • The unemployment rate in the District of Columbia rose 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent in March and was up 0.2 percentage point on a year-over-year basis.

Housing Market icon showing a picture of a house Housing Market Conditions


  • D.C. issued 83 new residential permits in February, up from the 21 issued in January and down from the 299 permits issued in February 2023.
  • According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values in D.C. depreciated 2.2 percent from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2023.
Snapshot Resources
  • Term Definitions

    Payroll Employment
    The number of nonfarm jobs (persons on payrolls) according to where those jobs are located.

    Unemployment Rate
    The number of unemployed persons (those not employed but available and searching for work) as a percent of the civilian labor force (the total number of employed plus unemployed persons).

    Industry Structure
    A breakdown of total nonfarm jobs by industry. Percentages sum to 100 percent.

    Industry Growth
    The percentage change in jobs in each industry from a year ago.

    Building Permits
    The number of privately owned single-family and multi-family units authorized in permit-issuing places.

    House Price Index
    A repeat sales index, measuring average price changes in repeat sales or refinancings on the same single-family properties.

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