Forbes has said in a recent article that Washington, D.C. is emerging from the recession better than any city in the U.S., citing evidence that jobs in Washington are growing quickly.

Washington, D.C. has been in the news for many reasons lately, after it was pummeled by two snow storms and as the location for the sparring match between Republicans and Democrats over healthcare. But there are other reasons the city has been spotlighted.

The city has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, at 6.2%, and its output amounts to $362.3 billion, more than three times the average for the country’s largest cities.

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While many places throughout the country continue to lose workers and see their unemployment rate consistently increase, more Washington DC jobs were added last month.

During July, the District of Columbia saw its unemployment rate decrease from 10.9 percent to 10.6 percent. This is the first time the city’s unemployment rate has declined since March, but the lowered rate is still higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.4 percent.

D.C. had a total non-farm employment of 716,200 workers during July, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 703,000 jobs during June and a .9 percent increase from last year.

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City officials are doing their part to help save Washington DC government jobs by working to balance the upcoming budget, but not all positions will be spared.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty recently submitted his plan to close the projected $453 million budget gap this year and next year’s projected $150 million budget gap. During June, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer predicted the city could face additional budget deficits.

“My administration has taken action to address the District’s deficit, exploring all possible options,” Fenty said. “Our proposed plan not only balances the budget but also protects critical services for District residents.”

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As the District’s unemployment rate continued to increase, a dismal number of Washington, D.C. jobs were added during May.

The District of Columbia saw its unemployment rate climb from 9.9 percent to 10.7 percent during May, which is higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.4 percent.

However, the District did manage to add a few hundred jobs. The District had a total non-farm employment of 702,700 workers during May, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 702,400 workers during April, but a .3 percent decrease from last year.

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Construction has begun on a project that will eventually create thousands of D.C. office jobs.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and officials from Forest City Washington and the General Services Administration recently announced that work has begun on The Park at The Yards, a 5.4-acre public waterfront park that will overlook the Anacostia River. The Park is a major part of The Yards project, which will include the development a 42-acre urban neighborhood.

When completed, The Yards will accommodate about 2,700 new condos and apartments; 400,000-square-feet of restaurants and shops; 1.8 million-square-feet of office space and the preservation of unique historical buildings already on the site. The Yards is expected to house more than 4,700 new residents. The project also will create 7,700 new jobs, most of them office jobs, which will generate about $450 million in yearly salaries.

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Several youths will have the opportunity to participate in D.C. summer jobs this year.

About 24,000 youths 14 to 24-years old in Washington, D.C. have already registered for the city’s 2009 Summer Youth Employment Program, which had an early registration deadline of May 1. This is the highest level of enrollment the city has seen in years, which is good news since the program faced some backlash last year. This year’s program runs from June 18 to August 21.

This year the city also is able to offer a record number of job opportunities. Program participants will have a variety of job options, including working in many District agencies, the private sector, the federal government - including the White House - and the Mayor’s Conservation Corps.

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Washington D.C. art jobs contribute a lot to the District’s economy.

According to a recent assessment by the DC Office of Planning and Washington DC Economic Partnership, the District’s creative industries generate more than $5 billion in income every year.

“The economic significance of the creative sector is clear – creative enterprises play a key role in contributing to the District’s economic vibrancy through tourism, income generation, and business incubation,” Harriet Tregoning, director of the Office of Planning, said in a press release. “Now, more than ever, we have an opportunity to harness the extensive talent in the city in a way that will position the District as a global leader in creative industries.”

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The recently-passed federal economic stimulus plan will create more jobs in Washington, D.C. than anywhere else in the country.

Cassidy & Pinkard Colliers recently released a report stating that the greater Washington area will benefit the most from the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to an article by GlobeSt.com, this is not a surprise, as generally when the economy reaches a recession, population growth in the D.C. area exceeds other cities by 15 to 20 percent.

That means the stimulus, which amounts to $787 billion overall, will garner more jobs and needed office space for Washington, D.C.
Typically, for every $1 billion in federal spending, 7,000 jobs are created in the Washington area. The new stimulus could give D.C. $23 billion during the next three years, meaning 30,000 Washington D.C. jobs could be created by 2010 and 64,000 jobs could be created by 2019.

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Helping incarcerated people get ready for a Washington, D.C. job also could help the local economy.

In December 2008, the District of Columbia opened the Employment Readiness Center in the Central Detention Facility, which is meant to help those who are 45 to 60 days from release prepare for a job search. The center is a joint project between the Department of Corrections and the Department of Employment Services. Project Empowerment, which is part of the DOES, manages the center and provided $21,679 for supplies and equipment.

“The Employment Readiness Center reflects the District’s strong commitment to providing the resources critical to facilitating the reentry process for inmates on the cusp of release,” Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said in a press release. “Being equipped with the skills necessary to apply for and land a job increases the likelihood that these returning residents can become self-sufficient and make positive contributions to the community.”

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Amidst an economy that is shedding several technology jobs, DC IT jobs are continuing to grow.

Companies throughout the industry, from large publicly traded companies to smaller startup companies, have eliminated thousands of workers because of the current economic downturn. And the worst isn’t over yet, according to an article by The Wall Street Journal. However, Washington, D.C. seems to be weathering the storm.

A recent Dice.com survey of corporate hiring managers and other professionals who recruit technology workers showed that there will be fewer job options and more layoffs in the technology industry during the next six months. It also was found that of those who responded to the survey, 20 percent said layoffs were likely within their company, a 9 percent increase from June, and 72 percent said the current state of the economy has caused them to reduce hiring during the next six months, up from 53 percent in June.

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