Skip to Main Content
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

District of Columbia

aerial view of Washington, D.C.

Payroll employment in the District of Columbia increased by only 100 jobs (0.0 percent) in April. The unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage point to 6.2 percent.

Download Full PDF

Labor market icon showing three people Labor Market Conditions

  • "The District of Columbia's labor market was little changed in April as total payroll employment increased marginally, and the unemployment rate edged down." – Joseph Mengedoth
  • Total payroll employment in the District of Columbia increased by only 100 jobs (0.0 percent) in April, on net. The only sectors to add jobs in the month were professional and business services (900 jobs), leisure and hospitality (800 jobs), and information services (100 jobs). Those gains were mostly offset by losses in "other" services (800 jobs), government (500 jobs), and education and health services (500 jobs).
  • On a year-over-year basis, total payroll employment in the District of Columbia declined by 39,100 jobs (5.1 percent), on net. Compared to last year, the most jobs were lost in government (27,300 jobs) and professional and business services (5,200 jobs).
  • The unemployment rate in the District of Columbia declined 0.1 percentage point to 6.2 percent in April.

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

  • D.C. issued 25 new residential permits in April 2026, down from the 30 issued in March 2026. This is lower than the 27 permits issued in April 2025.
  • According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values depreciated 0.4 percent from Q4 of 2025 to Q1 of 2026. Additionally, home values increased 0.9 percent from Q1 of 2025 to Q1 of 2026.
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.

Subscribe to Economic Data

Receive an email notification when regional surveys and reports are posted online:

Subscribe to Economic Data

By submitting this form you agree to the Bank's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Notice.

Contact Icon Contact Us
Joseph Mengedoth