Washington, D.C. Market Snapshot
February 2023
Note: Most recent data available.
Throughout the Washington, D.C. area, businesses in many sectors including manufacturing, warehousing and hospitality report a shortage of job applicants. With a tight labor market spurring competition for front-line and entry level workers, the number of job postings remains near record levels. Meanwhile, many area employers are boosting wages to attract and retain workers.
The latest unemployment rate in the Washington, D.C. metro area is 3.6%, as compared to the national unemployment rate of 3.9%. In February of 2023, 4,600 new jobs were added. Additionally, Washington, D.C. metro area wages in February 2023 have increased 2.6% year over year to $40.66, just shy of their record high of $41.12 in January 2023.
jobs Added
+4,600
month over month
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
3.6%
up from 3.4% in July 2022
WAGE CHANGE
+2.6%
year over year
- Nonfarm wage and salary employment in the Washington, D.C. area is up 1.8% year over year.
- Education and health services had the largest job growth (+4,100) among all supersectors.
- The unemployment rate in the U.S. is 3.9%, compared to 3.6% in the Washington, D.C. area.
Washington, D.C. Jobs Breakdown
Q1 2023
landscapers & groundskeepers
- Unique Job Postings: 309
- Jobs Change: ↑ 27.7% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $17.71
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $19.02
bartenders
- Unique Job Postings: 1,502
- Jobs Change: ↑ 18.7% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $15.66
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $25.05
STOCKERS & ORDER FILLERS
- Unique Job Postings: 1,331
- Jobs Change: ↑ 2.7% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $16.29
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $17.05
maids & housekeepers
- Unique Job Postings: 1,264
- Jobs Change: ↑ 8.5% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $14.95
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $16.31
janitors & cleaners
- Unique Job Postings: 1,512
- Jobs Change: ↑ 6.7% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $15.78
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $16.92
dishwashers
- Unique Job Postings: 823
- Jobs Change: ↑ 4.3% from Q4 2022
- Median Hourly Wage: $15.04
- Median Hourly Wage as Advertised: $16.06
About PeopleReady
PeopleReady connects people with work throughout the Washington, D.C. market. We put a Workforce Within Reach™ across a variety of industries, including hospitality, retail, manufacturing, construction and more. If you’re struggling to find workers in this competitive market, call us at 800.966.4139 to find staffing solutions now.
SOURCES
- U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- Emsi, April 3, 2023
