While the overall unemployment rate for the Federal city of District of Columbia dropped in the last two years, certain areas in this city are higher than anywhere in the nation. The city's area ranges in population and profession. The city's covers 8 wards in 39 square miles. The highest employing profession remains Federal Government jobs.
The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates that the total job force for Washington D.C. is 737, 2000. While the population is 367,300. More people commute into D.C. from outside sates than to work than those who live inside the region. Jobs in the private sector workforce include 493,000. Jobs in the Federal government sector include 243, 3000. The largest job force in the private sector is from professional and business services.
In 2011 D.C.'s rate was 10.1%. By 2012 the rate fell to 8.5%. While this is the overall rate applicable to all of the city's residents, the rates vary by wards measured among each ward's population. Ward 1, the downtown area, held an 8.4% rate of unemployment in 2011. That's 4,118 people out of a 48,908 people in the labor force. In the same year of 2011, Ward 8 had the highest amount unemployment at 24.2%. That is 7,465 people out of a 30,908 labor force.
In these two wards the rates for unemployment had dropped significantly in 2012. Ward 1's business sector area full of offices, coffee shop, schools, federal government, and museums was at 7.4%. That is 3,866 people out of a 52,389 labor force. In 2012, Ward 8's rate held at 21.6%. At 7,010 people unemployed and 32,407 people in the labor force. The main differences between the two areas of town are the economic budget functioning and the population.
The Ward 8 area of Anacostia is home to the Frederick Douglas museum, where Ward 1 has the Lincoln Monument and the Smithsonian. Ward 8 is the poorer side of town in need of more economic solutions. According to United States Census Bureau, in 2011 the overall African American population in Washington D.C. was 50.7%, compared to 42.4% of Caucasian Americans.
The difference in population and surrounding community makes a big difference. Clearly the rate of unemployment is higher among a larger population of African Americans. Where Ward 8 weighs in over Ward 1 by double the amount of numbers of persons unemployed. While Ward 1 has more residents living in this area over Ward 8 as more people are employed.
Sources Cites for this article include:
"DC Ward Labor force, Employment, Unemployment and Rate" DOES- Office of Market Research and Information (OLMRI). bls.gov. Web. 25 Jan 2013
"District of Columbia Wage and Salary Employment by Industry and Place of Work a/ (thousands)" Dept. of Employment Services Office of Labor Market Research and US Bureau of Labor Statistics. bls.gov. Web. 25 Jan 2013-01-26
“State and County Quick facts” United States Department of Commerce. United States Census Bureau. Quickfacts.census.gov Web. 26 Jan 2013
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