Washington Metro’s Unemployment Rate at 5.1 percent

(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia's Department of Employment Services (DOES) reported today that the preliminary April job estimates show an increase of 3,900 jobs for a total of 1,089,700 jobs in the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division. The private sector increased by 4,600 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 100 jobs. The Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted April 2026 unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, which was 0.1 percentage point lower from the revised March 2026 unemployment rate of 5.2 percent. The Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division's unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in April 2025, which was 0.6 percentage points lower than the current unemployment rate of 5.1 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 April 2026 was 980,900, of which 930,700 were employed and 50,300 were unemployed. The unemployment rate was 5.1 percent. The total civilian labor force in the Suburban Ring of the Communities surrounding the District of Columbia was 3,047,900, of which 2,935,200 were employed and 112,700 were unemployed. The unemployment rate for this area was 3.7 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 3,449,400, of which 3,314,500 were employed and 134,900 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 decreased by 0.1 percentage points, while the unemployment rates for the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Areas and the Suburban Ring decreased by 0.2 percentage points each.

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 26,100, while the number of employed decreased by 31,400, and the number of unemployed increased by 5,300. The civilian labor force for the Suburban Ring decreased over the year by 72,600, while the number of employed decreased by 90,800, and the number of unemployed increased by 18,200. Meanwhile, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area's civilian labor force decreased by 83,000, while the number of employed decreased by 100,600 and the number of unemployed increased by 17,500. For the year, the unemployment rates for the Washington, DC-MD Metropolitan Division and the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area increased by 0.6 percentage points, while the unemployment rate for the Suburban Ring increased by 0.7 percentage points.

Metropolitan Division's Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington DC-MD Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 3,900 jobs. The private sector increased by 4,600 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 700 jobs over the month. The private sector had six gains over the month. The gains were registered in: Mining Logging & Construction 200 jobs; Trade Transportation and Utilities 600 jobs; Information 200 jobs; Financial Activities 100 jobs; Professional and Business Services 1,400 jobs and Leisure and Hospitality 2,900 jobs. The private sector losses were registered in: Manufacturing (-100); Private Education and Health Services (-200); and Other Services (500). Government overall decreased 700 jobs over the month. The federal government decreased by 900 jobs, while the state government decreased 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 54,300 jobs. The private sector decreased by 22,000 jobs, while the public sector decreased by 32,300 jobs. Job increases were registered in Mining Logging and Construction 200 jobs. The private sector losses were registered in: Manufacturing (-400 jobs); Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (-900 jobs); Information (-500); Professional and Business Services (-11,800 jobs); Private Educational and Health Services (-2,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (-5,000 jobs); and Other Services (-1,600). Government overall decreased by 32,300 jobs. The Federal government decreased 32,700 jobs. State government decreased 1,000 jobs and the local government increased 1,400 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.