(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Department of Employment Services (DOES) Director Joseph Walsh announced that the unemployment rate in the District of Columbia for May 2010 dropped 0.6 percent to 10.4 percent from 11.0 percent in April. The District leads the nation for the month of May in the largest percent decrease in unemployment.

The jobless rate of 10.4 percent has dropped more than one percent in just two months. May marks the fifth consecutive decline in unemployment. The District of Columbia continues to show growth in the number of available jobs. The District has experienced an increase of 7,100 jobs for a total of 708,500 jobs and is ranked third in the nation for the largest percentage increase in new jobs.

“Today’s employment report is fantastic news for the District of Columbia,” said Mayor Fenty. “We are seeing real signs of economic recovery in Washington, DC. We still have work to do to ensure that all DC residents who are struggling to find a job and make ends meet are able to return to work.”

In the coming weeks, the Fenty Administration will award $2.1 million from federal stimulus dollars for workforce development grants. The grants will support occupational skills training in the fields of green construction, health care and information technology as well as further support workforce development. DOES has received over 65 applications for the grants.

“Thanks to the support of President Obama and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis these federal stimulus dollars enable us to expand critical job training and employment programs for District residents,” said Joseph Walsh, Director of DOES, DC’s labor and workforce development agency.

For the full report on employment data in the District of Columba, please visit DOES’ website, www.does.dc.gov.