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Executive Summary

Our latest Regional Economic Snapshot tracks the trends shaping Greater Washington's economy—from jobs and economic output to innovation, affordability and long-term competitiveness. The newest data shows a region facing economic headwinds, with Metro Washington posting the largest employment decline among major metros over the past year and unemployment rising faster than the national rate. But the data also points to the region's enduring strengths: DC, Maryland and Virginia attracted nearly $6.4 billion in venture capital investment in 2025—the strongest year since 2021—and high-growth industries such as AI, cybersecurity, biotech and advanced manufacturing are projected to add thousands of jobs by 2030.