District Unemployment Rate Continues To Drop

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray today welcomed news that the District of Columbia’s unemployment rate continued to decline, as preliminary August job estimates show a decrease of 0.1 percent to 8.8 percent. The number of unemployed District residents dropped by 500 from 31,700 in July to 31,200 in August.  The August numbers mark six straight months of unemployment decline in the District.

“While it’s gratifying to see a continued drop, our employment situation is complex and we must not give in to complacency,” noted Mayor Gray. “We must continue working diligently to grow and diversify our economy. To back off now would be foolhardy, especially given the very real possibly of devastating federal budget cuts on the horizon.”