How many jobs were lost in last month?

Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed monthly
Washington, DC lost 5,400 jobs in January 2026. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 8 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.

-5.4K

month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
January 2026's loss of 5,400 jobs was the 13th consecutive month of negative job growth in Washington, DC. Monthly job growth was down from the 1,300 lost jobs in December 2025.
During the latest five year period (February 2021 to January 2026), Washington, DC gained jobs in 27 out of 60 months. October 2025 had the third-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in October 2021 (+8,300) while job growth was weakest in October 2025 (-17,600).

There were 5,400 fewer jobs in January 2026 in Washington, DC than the previous month.

Monthly change in nonfarm employment, February 2021–January 2026, seasonally adjusted

Which Washington, DC sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in January 2026?

The three supersectors with the highest job growth in January 2026 were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, health care and social assistance, and null. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services added 200 jobs, more than the entire economy. Health care and social assistance gained 200 jobs, while null added null. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.

The federal government sector lost 3,600 jobs during January 2026.

Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Washington, DC (January 2026)

How does Washington, DC's job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?

In 2025, the state has lost an average of 2,700 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 392, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as second-lowest in job growth since 2006.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 3,100 on average every month in 2022 to a gain of 1,600 on average every month in 2015.

In 2025, Washington, DC lost an average of 2,700 jobs every month.

Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted

Monthly job growth, by metro area

Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Washington, DC

Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areaChange in jobs

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.