Clark County profile

Posted April 2025

Summary

Location

Clark County is located in southwest Washington, along the Columbia River. It is part of the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The region is well connected, with proximity to Interstate 5 as well as major air, rail, and maritime transportation.

Clark County, along with neighboring Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties, is part of Washington’s seventh Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.

Employment situation for February 2025

Labor force and unemployment

• The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3% in February 2025. This was up from 4.8% in the previous month but unchanged from 5.3% in February 2024.

• The total civilian labor force was 250,697 in February 2025, down from 261,912 in February 2024.

• There were 13,250 unemployed persons in February 2025, 654 fewer than in February 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics

Payroll employment

• Total nonfarm employment was 188,300 in February 2025, not seasonally adjusted. This was down by 100 from the previous month, and up by 3,700 (2.0%) from February 2025.

• Over the year, employment increased in nine industries, decreased in one, and was unchanged in three industries.

• The largest over the year increases were in construction, professional and business services, and in education and health services, which each added 700 jobs.

• Wholesale trade employment decreased by 100 jobs over the year.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Clark County

Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024, updated March 28, 2025.

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)

Industry employment (covered employment)

Clark County has one of the most diverse economies in the state, with significant employment in both goods producing and service providing industries. Health care and social assistance continues to be a major sector with some of the largest employers in the region.

Employment by industry, Clark County 2023 annual average

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)

Note: ND stands for not disclosed. ND is used to avoid disclosing data for individual employers. Industries labeled ND are grouped in the Not elsewhere classified category.

Average annual covered employment in Clark County was 180,182 and the average annual wage was $68,874 in 2023. Covered employment refers to workers who received wages in Washington state and are eligible for state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) compensation programs.

Top five sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

• Health care and social assistance (29,322)
• Government (26,815)
• Retail trade (18,724)
• Construction (17,432)
• Accommodation and food services (15,169)

Top five sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

• Finance and insurance ($112,480)
• Management of companies and enterprises ($109,840)
• Information ($106,292)
• Professional, scientific, and technical services ($104,482)
• Wholesale trade ($94,813)

These five sectors make up approximately 18% of all employment.

Workforce demographics for Clark County

Clark County’s labor force participation rate is 64.2%, led by strong labor force participation among prime aged workers (aged 25 to 54). Approximately two-thirds of the population aged 25 to 64 has some college education or higher. Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for quick facts about Clark County.

Age

Race or Hispanic origin

Sex

Females with children

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Disability status

Educational attainment

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, expressed or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.