Local Business Alert: Local jobless rate dips as hiring increased

	Wednesday, February 1, 2012 12:58:43 PM LOCAL BUSINESS ALERT Local jobless rate dips as hiring increased The unemployment rate in the Washington region fell to 5.9 percent to 5.8 percent in December, according to a report released Wednesday, as some contractors concerned about federal spending cuts picked up their hiring to bring in more business. The federal government, long the economic engine of the Washington region, lost 3,900 positions from December 2010 to December 2011, the U.S. Labor Department said in the report. Led by some growth at the local and state levels, the government gained 100 jobs during that 12-month period, but 13,300 positions were created in the private sector. Professional and business services — which includes government contractors, as well as accountants, lawyers and other white-collar positions -- added the most private-sector jobs — 8,200. Read more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/area-jobless-rate-dipped-in-december-as-hiring-increased/2012/01/31/gIQATL4whQ_story.html Or visit PostBusiness.com or Capital Business. SEND TO A FRIEND UNSUBSCRIBE E-MAIL CENTER GET HELP Washington Post Digital E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071 ©2011 The Washington Post Privacy Policy