Metropolitan Washington is a dynamic region with one of the strongest economies in the nation, attracting talent and investment from around the globe. For decades, much of the region's economic growth was fueled by the federal government—first as an employer, then as a contractor. Given an outlook of reduced federal spending, area leaders are now focused on growing the private sector, better aligning workforce development programs with key industry sectors, and increasing the region's global exports.
To support these economic efforts, COG collects and monitors data from various federal, state, local, and private sources and publishes monthly, annual, and occasional summaries and analyses. Key information on the region's job growth, unemployment, inflation, retail sales, and more is analyzed and presented in the monthly Regional Economic Monitoring System (REMS) report. Economic growth as measured through new construction is monitored in the Commercial Construction Indicators report. COG also provides in-depth analysis of population, household, employment, income, and demographic factors and changes in the region using Census and American Community Survey data.
News & Multimedia
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June 15, 2017
As graduation season wraps up in metropolitan Washington—a time to celebrate achievements and the possibilities for the future—it is important that government,...
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May 23, 2017
Commercial construction in the metropolitan Washington region is beginning to rebound, increasing 69 percent between 2015 and 2016, according to the...
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April 3, 2017
In March, COG Executive Director Chuck Bean was a guest on CBS DC’s Washington Report, where he discussed the importance of the region’s human capital to its...
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January 12, 2017
The Greater Washington Metro Export Plan, released at the January meeting of the COG Board of Directors, calls for increasing the region’s participation in the...
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October 25, 2016
Developing a skilled workforce to fill STEM-intensive occupations in seven economic clusters will help drive metropolitan Washington’s economic growth over the...
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August 4, 2016
Commercial construction declined by 31 percent between 2014 and 2015, according to a new COG report which provides information on non-residential projects that...
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May 12, 2016
Based on a new analysis of millions of online job postings, the new Trends in Workforce Demand Report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments...
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May 4, 2016
Transportation Planner Nicole McCall has led COG’s effort to analyze job posting data to determine what occupations are in greatest demand in the region, and...
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March 11, 2016
In recent years, metropolitan Washington’s economy has suffered from the decline in federal spending – the region’s principal economic driver, said Dr. Stephen...