October 2024 | Released November 19, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In October, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 21.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia and Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October.

• In October, payroll jobs rose in 21 states and fell in 30. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1 percent in Washington.

District of Columbia Employment Snapshot

• In October, District of Columbia lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.7 percent. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 2,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, District of Columbia added 7,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 4.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. District of Columbia is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In October, District of Columbia’s private sector lost 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 4,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In October, employment in District of Columbia fell by 375, and over the past 12 months it rose by 581.

• District of Columbia’s labor force participation rate fell to 71.8 percent in October from 72 percent and ranks 1st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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District of Columbia Payroll Employment

• District of Columbia lost 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 2,500 jobs. District of Columbia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. District of Columbia is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• District of Columbia lost 500 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 4,600 jobs. District of Columbia private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs fell by 28,000 jobs in October, or 0 percent. District of Columbia is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during October were Professional and Business Services (900) and Other Services (400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Education and Health Services (-700) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (4,400) and Other Services (3,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-800) and Government (-1,000).

District of Columbia Labor Force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in District of Columbia fell to 71.8 percent in October from 72 percent in the prior month.

• District of Columbia ranks 1st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in District of Columbia was 72.8 percent in April 2024, and the 10-year low was 68 percent in May 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in October.