Employment
In 2003, there were over 638,445 people working in the Washington, DC metro area. The unemployment rate sat at approximately 6.5%. The average weekly wage, as reported in 2003, was $1,238 or equivalent to $30.95 per hour. Assuming a forty-hour work week and working year round, an employee in the city earned an average annual salary of $64,376.
Washington DC’s largest major industry is public administration and government. This sector accounted for 27% of the workforce. The second highest industry workforce can be found in the professional, scientific and technical services with 15%, and rounding off the number three position is the Health Care and Social Assistance industry with 9%.
Washington also serves as world headquarters for corporations such as U.S. Airways, Marriott International, Amtrak, Gannett News, Mobil Oil, MCI Telecommunications and the International Monetary Fund. The largest private employer is the publishing giant, Bureau of National Affairs, Inc (BNA).
Fast Facts
- 2000 census population: 572,059
- Racial makeup: Black/African American – 60%; White – 30.8%; Hispanic/Latino – 7.9%, and Asian – 2.7%
- Population: Age 18 and over - 79.9%; 65 and over - 12.3%
- Language: residents age 5 and older speaking English in the home - 83.2%; Spanish - 9.2%
- 2000 median household income: $41,000
- Median age: 34.6