Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 5.2 percent

(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia's Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary May job estimates show a decrease of 1,200 jobs for a total of 1,088,900 jobs in the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division. The private sector decreased by 1,000 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 200 jobs. The Washington, DC- MD Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted May 2026 unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, which was 0.1 percentage point increase from the revised April 2026 unemployment rate of 5.1 percent. The Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division's unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in May 2025, which was 0.4 percentage points lower than the current unemployment rate of 5.2 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 May 2026 was 972,300, of which 922,200 were employed and 50,100 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 5.2 percent. The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,034,900, of which 2,925,400 were employed and 109,500 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 3.6 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 3,436,200, of which 3,302,600 were employed and 133,600 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 3.9 percent. For the month the unemployment rate for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased by 0.1 percentage point, the unemployment rate for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area was unchanged and 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 decreased over the year by 26,200, while the number of employed decreased by 28,100, and the number of unemployed increased by 1,900. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring decreased over the year by 74,900, while the number of employed decreased by 80,500, and the number of unemployed increased by 5,600. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area's civilian labor force decreased by 82,300, while the number of employed decreased by 88,200 and the number of unemployed increased by 5,900. For the year, the unemployment rate for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased by 0.4 percentage points, while the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Suburban Ring increased by 0.3 percentage points each.

Metropolitan Division's Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division decreased over the month by 1,200 jobs. The private sector decreased by 1,000 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 200 jobs over the month. The private sector had three gains over the month. The gains were registered in: Mining Logging & Construction 900 jobs; Financial Activities 200 jobs; and Leisure and Hospitality 2,400 jobs. The private sector losses were registered in: Trade Transportation and Utilities (-500) jobs; Professional and Business Services (-900) jobs; Private Education and Health Services (-2,700); and Other Services (-400). Government overall decreased 200 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased by 600 jobs, while the state government increased by 100 jobs and local government increased by 300 jobs.
During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division decreased by 54,900 jobs. The private sector decreased by 22,300 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 32,600 jobs. Job increases were registered in Mining Logging and Construction 700 jobs. The private sector losses were registered in: Manufacturing (-400 jobs); Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (-1,300 jobs); Information (-800 jobs); Financial Services (-200 jobs); Professional and Business Services (-12,100 jobs); Private Educational and Health Services (-2,700 jobs) and Leisure and Hospitality (-4,300 jobs); and Other Services (-1,200 jobs). Government overall decreased by 32,600 jobs. The Federal government decreased 32,900 jobs. State government decreased 1,000 jobs and the local government increased 1,300 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.