The federal government may account for a larger percentage of the Washington, DC job market than any single business sector, but the DC employment outlook is far from monolithic. Private-sector employment has grown substantially over the past decade in the nation’s capital. Management, hospitality, professional services, banking and finance, insurance, construction and real estate are all key industry sectors in DC. In addition to the financial services company Fannie Mae, the largest single providers of non-government jobs in Washington, DC are universities and hospitals. George Washington University, Howard University, Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University are major employers in the District of Columbia.

Journalism and media is a globally significant source of Washington, DC jobs. Along with many foreign and domestic news bureaus, C-SPAN, NPR and XM Satellite Radio are based in DC. Tourism is another primary creator of DC jobs. Washington contains numerous landmarks, monuments and historic buildings, from the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials to the Smithsonian Institution and Library of Congress. The proximity of Washington to Virginia and Maryland means that many jobs in DC are held by commuters. Over half of DC’s workforce resides outside of Washington and its suburbs.