DC still has highest unemployment rate, despite strong job growth

When compared to states, the District had the highest unemployment rate in March, at 6%, though that was down from 6.1% in February, and 6.6% a year earlier.

As of March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports D.C. had an annual job growth rate of 4.8%, among the largest year-over-year gains compared to states. In the past year, the District added about 35,000 jobs.



Maryland’s unemployment rate in March was 4.6%, down from 5% in February and 5.7% a year earlier. Maryland’s annual job growth rate was 3.1%, gaining about 82,000 jobs in the past year.

Virginia’s March unemployment rate was 3%, down from 3.2% in February and 4.5% a year earlier. Virginia’s annual job growth rate in March was 2.8%, with roughly 109,000 more jobs than March 2021.

The National unemployment rate in March was 3.6%. All unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted.

All 50 states and D.C. had lower unemployment rates than a year earlier.

Nebraska and Utah tied for the lowest state unemployment rates in March, at 2%. After D.C., New Mexico had the highest unemployment rate at 5.3%.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics posts monthly unemployment states and changes in civilian labor force numbers online.

Jeff Clabaugh

Jeff Clabaugh has spent 20 years covering the Washington region's economy and financial markets for WTOP as part of a partnership with the Washington Business Journal, and officially joined the WTOP newsroom staff in January 2016.

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