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District of Columbia

Share of jobs in strong industries: 46.9%
Number of workers: 265,059
Metro area unemployment rate: 4.3%
Agriculture jobs: 0.08%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical jobs (legal, accounting etc.): 14.02%
Education jobs: 9.35%
Health-care jobs: 8.57%
Public Administration (Government) jobs: 14.92%

Government is the dominant industry in the nation's capital, which fills up each day with lawyers, lobbyists, legislative aides, and journalists. D.C. could feel the impact of shrinking tax revenues in a weakened economy, but the damage likely won't be as severe as it might be in cities dependent on retail, banking, and other industries. The city could also benefit by being home to major educational institutions such as Georgetown University and American University. It's also a major tourist destination and might continue to draw foreign tourists attracted by the weak dollar.

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