In 2022, ESI and The Riddle Company were hired to conduct an Employment Study on behalf of DowntownDC to understand the size and makeup of employment within the BID, as well as the contribution of employment in the BID to the District of Columbia and the surrounding region’s total employment. The study provides a snapshot of existing employment conditions in the BID.
Downtown DC is a significant employment cluster in the District of Columbia and the metro region, with 74.6 million square feet of office space. DowntownDC is also home to some of the region’s largest entertainment anchors (DC Convention Center and Capital One Arena) and related uses including restaurants and hotels.
Our team conducted several interviews with DowntownDC BID board members, local stakeholders, and employers. We also conducted a simple survey related to the status of employment in their own companies. The participation rate for both exercises was limited, however the interviews and the surveys presented several consistent messages which align with recent research and market intelligence about leasing, hiring, doing business in DC, and downtown as a destination for business and entertainment.