While unemployment continued to rise in many places across the country in April, finding jobs in Washington, D.C. became easier, according to the most recent data U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the month, the metro’s jobless rate dropped 0.3 percent from March’s 5.9 percent to 5.6 percent.
During the same month the national unemployment rate rose 0.4 percent from March’s 8.5 percent to 8.9 percent. This means that, despite the economic recession affecting the majority of the country, job seekers in D.C. aren’t struggling as badly to find work as those located in many other places.
Although the D.C. metro saw some relief during April, the area’s jobless rate is still significantly higher than it was a year ago. During the same month in 2008 only 3 percent of the area’s residents were unable to find work.