Jobless rates
| Area | December jobless rate | November jobless rate |
| District | 12.1 percent | 11.8 percent |
| Maryland | 7.5 percent | 7.3 percent |
| Virginia | 6.9 percent | 6.6 percent |
| U.S. | 10.0 percent | 10.0 percent |
The unemployment rate ticked up across the region in December, as 2009 ended much as it began — with thousands of local residents searching for work.
The D.C. jobless rate hit 12.1 percent in December, its highest level since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began reliably tracking statewide unemployment rates in 1976.
“I don’t think it’s unexpected,” said D.C. Councilman Michael Brown, I-at large. “The economy is getting better, but jobs are still lagging behind. The most concerning part is that in the eastern part of the city the numbers are closer to 30 percent.”
The national unemployment rate held steady at 10 percent for December, two full percentage points below the rate in the District. The jobless rate in neighboring Maryland and Virginia remained well below the national average, despite December upticks.
Maryland saw a 0.2-point increase in the December unemployment rate, finishing at 7.5 percent statewide — its highest level since 1983. The state’s civilian labor force shed more than 10,000 jobs from November to December.
The Virginia unemployment rate finished the year at 6.9 percent, up 0.3 percentage points from November and just 0.2 points lower than its midyear high.
“At the end of the year you always tend to get some [business] closings,” said William Mezger, a chief economist with the state of Virginia.
Mezger said foundry closings in Lynchburg and Radford — and a paper mill closing in Franklin — contributed to dreary year-end employment numbers.
Unemployment rates in D.C. were up despite the addition of 600 jobs, which came mostly in the professional and business services sector. Apart from slight gains in the trade, transportation and utilities work force, all other industries shed jobs in December.
Brown stressed the need for better job-training programs, backed by fellow Councilman Kwame Brown, D-at large.
“People need job training,” Brown said. “And until it’s a serious conversation and a priority, unemployment will continue to rise.”
In addition to D.C., Maryland and Virginia, unemployment rose in 41 states last month.
For those looking for work, Mezger said the immediate outlook was bleak.
“Normally January and February are the worst months of the year for unemployment,” he said.
