Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 5.6 percent

(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia's Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary January job estimates show a decrease of 27,700 jobs for a total of 1,084,300 jobs in the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division. The private sector decreased by 20,300 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 300 jobs. The Washington, DC- MD Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted January 2026 unemployment rate was 5.6 percent, which was 0.5 percentage points higher from the benchmarked December 2025 unemployment rate of 5.1 percent. The Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division's unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in January 2025, which was 0.9 percentage points lower than the current unemployment rate of 5.6 percent.

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 29,900, while the number of employed decreased by 38,200, and the number of unemployed increased by 8,300. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring decreased over the year by 72,200, while the number of employed decreased by 101,300, and the number of unemployed increased by 29,200. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area's civilian labor force decreased by 84,600, while the number of employed decreased by 114,600 and the number of unemployed increased by 30,100. For the year, the unemployment rate for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased by 0.9 percentage points, while the unemployment rates for the Suburban Ring and the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area increased by 1.0 percentage point each.

Metropolitan Division's Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division decreased over the month by 27,700 jobs. The private sector decreased by 20,300 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 300 jobs over the month. The private sector had no gain over the month. The private sector had nine losses. The losses were registered in Manufacturing (-500 jobs); Mining Logging & Construction (-1,300 jobs); Trade, Transportation & Utilities (-5,200 jobs); Information (-500 jobs); Financial Activities (-200) Professional and Business Services (-2,100 jobs); Private Education and Health Services (-100); Leisure and Hospitality (-3,800 jobs); and Other Services (-400 jobs). Government overall decreased 300 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased by 500 jobs while the state government decreased by 70,000 and local government decreased by 52,200 jobs.

During the past 12 months, employment in the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division decreased by 53,300 jobs. The private sector decreased by 24,100 jobs, while the public sector increased by 1,100 jobs. Job increases were registered in Mining, Logging and Construction (2,000) jobs. The private sector losses were registered in: Manufacturing (-400) Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (-2,100 jobs); Information (-1,100 jobs); Professional and Business Services (-10,900 jobs); and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,000 jobs). Government overall increased 1,100 jobs. The Federal government increased by 2,100 jobs. State government decreased 103,900 jobs and the local government decreased 51,000 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.