Posted December 2025
September 2025 highlights
Compared to August 2025, the unemployment rate decreased to 4.1% (1,914 unemployed individuals).
Employers reported 100 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 128,600) in Kennewick-Pasco-Richland Metro area.
Summary
Agriculture, food manufacturing, health care, education and industrial sectors continue to play pivotal roles in Franklin County’s robust economy. The agricultural sector and particularly food manufacturing remains a cornerstone of local employment and economic stability. In 2024, the county reported approximately 37,595 jobs and an average annual unemployment rate of 5.7%. Health care and education are significant employment sectors, underpinning the local economy.
Health care and education remain significant employment anchors with 3,182 jobs, or 8.5% employment share, supporting both workforce stability and community development. Population growth has continued, with a diverse demographic, especially the Hispanic community and shaping economic and workforce strategies. This demographic has been instrumental in driving entrepreneurship, labor force participation and cultural enrichment.
Efforts to attract a broader range of industries and support small businesses have strengthened industrial diversity and economic resilience. Workforce development initiatives emphasized skill enhancement in agriculture and manufacturing to maintain competitiveness and meet evolving industry demands.
Franklin County geographic overview
Franklin County is in the south-central part of Washington. It is part of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area, which includes Kennewick and Richland. The city of Pasco is the county seat and also the largest city in the county. Franklin County’s population was 96,749 in the 2020 census. In 2022, the Census estimated the population at 98,678, which is 2.0% growth from the 2020 census.
The county covers 1,265 square miles, including 23 square miles of water. It features a mix of agricultural land and rolling prairie-like terrain.
Franklin County was created out of Whitman County in 1883 and was named after Benjamin Franklin.
Washington has 12 regional Workforce Development Areas. Franklin County is part of Area 11, the Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the workforce regions.
Franklin County employment situation for September 2025
Monthly labor force and unemployment
- Labor force (46,971 in total) increased by 338 from August to September 2025, with 689 more people employed.
- Unemployment fell sharply month‑to‑month (‑351 people), dropping the unemployment rate from 4.9% to 4.1%.
- Compared to September 2024, the labor force is up 2.7% and employment is up 2.6%, showing solid year‑over‑year growth.
- Unemployment is up slightly year‑over‑year (+107 people), nudging the unemployment rate from 4.0% to 4.1%.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Monthly nonfarm payroll employment Kennewick-Pasco-Richland MSA
Nonfarm employment, not seasonally adjusted:
In September 2025, Kennewick-Pasco-Richland Metro area had 128,600 jobs.
One month ago, in August 2025, there were 100 fewer (128,500 in total).
Compared to August 2025, in September 2025 there are:
- 300 more jobs in service‑providing industries, the only major sector showing growth is local government.
- 200 fewer jobs in goods‑producing industries, with declines concentrated in construction.
- 300 fewer jobs in leisure and hospitality, reversing gains seen earlier in the summer.
One year ago, in September 2024, there were 1,500 more jobs (130,100 in total).
Compared to September 2024, in September 2025 there are:
- 700 fewer (‑7.1%) jobs in manufacturing, the largest decline of any major industry.
- 800 fewer (‑4.1%) jobs in government, marking a significant contraction in public‑sector employment.
- 300 more (1.4%) jobs in private education and health services, continuing steady long‑term growth.
- 400 more (3.4%) jobs in mining, logging and construction, the strongest increase among all sectors.
- Other noteworthy changes include 300 fewer (‑2.2%) retail jobs, 200 fewer (‑3.9%) transportation, warehousing, and utilities jobs and 100 more (2.8%) jobs in other services
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Kennewick-Pasco-Richland Metropolitan Statistical Area (Benton and Franklin Counties)
| NAICS Industry Title | Sep 2025 (Prelim) | Aug 2025 (Revised) | Sep 2024 (Revised) | Aug 2025 to Sep 2025 Change | Sep 2024 to Sep 2025 Change | Sep 2024 to Sep 2025 % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 128,600 | 128,500 | 130,100 | 100 | -1,500 | -1.2% |
| Total private (total nonfarm less government) | 109,900 | 110,500 | 110,600 | -600 | -700 | -0.6% |
| Goods-producing | 21,200 | 21,400 | 21,500 | -200 | -300 | -1.4% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 12,000 | 12,200 | 11,600 | -200 | 400 | 3.4% |
| - Manufacturing | 9,200 | 9,200 | 9,900 | 0 | -700 | -7.1% |
| Service-providing | 107,400 | 107,100 | 108,600 | 300 | -1,200 | -1.1% |
| - Wholesale trade | 3,800 | 3,800 | 3,700 | 0 | 100 | 2.7% |
| - Retail trade | 13,600 | 13,700 | 13,900 | -100 | -300 | -2.2% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 4,900 | 4,900 | 5,100 | 0 | -200 | -3.9% |
| - Information | 700 | 700 | 800 | 0 | -100 | -12.5% |
| - Financial activities | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,300 | 0 | -300 | -7.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 23,500 | 23,600 | 24,100 | -100 | -600 | -2.5% |
| - Private education and health services | 21,400 | 21,400 | 21,100 | 0 | 300 | 1.4% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 12,500 | 12,800 | 12,500 | -300 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Other services | 3,700 | 3,700 | 3,600 | 0 | 100 | 2.8% |
| - Government | 18,700 | 18,000 | 19,500 | 700 | -800 | -4.1% |
Note: Data benchmarked through March 2025, updated December 8, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Detailed tables can be found on the source page in the third spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted.
Total covered employment in Franklin County
In 2024, Franklin County saw significant employment trends across various sectors. Wages paid totaled $2.15 billion, with an average annual employment of 37,595 people and an average annual wage of $57,233. Key sectors like agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting employed 6,853 individuals with an average wage of $43,946.
The construction sector showed robust activity, with 2,671 employees earning an average of $66,478 annually. Manufacturing also played a crucial role, employing 4,705 people with an average wage of $59,831. Finance and insurance offered the highest sector-specific average wage at $90,103 for 396 employees. Government employment was substantial, with 6,983 employees earning an average of $72,731. Overall, the data indicates a diverse employment landscape with notable contributions from both traditional and service-oriented sectors.
Employment by industry, Franklin County 2024 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Franklin County was 37,554 in 2024. 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 2024:
-
Government (6,983 jobs or 18.6% employment share)
-
Agriculture (5,241 jobs or 14.0% employment share)
-
Manufacturing (4,611 jobs or 12.3% employment share)
-
Retail trade (3,775 jobs or 10.1% employment share)
-
Health care and social assistance were $612.6 million, (3,178 jobs or 8.5% employment share)
-
Construction (2,679 jobs or 7.1% employment share)
Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Franklin County for all industries was $57,267 with total payroll of $2.15 billion in 2024.
The top five sectors in terms of wages in 2024 were:
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Finance and insurance ($90,103)
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Wholesale trade ($78,668)
-
Management of companies and enterprises ($75,515)
-
Government ($72,741)
-
Information ($66,469)
-
Construction ($66,372)
Workforce demographics in Franklin County
The labor force participation rate is highest among the 20 to 24 years age group at 83.1%, while the 65-74 age group has the lowest at 24.6%. The majority of the workforce is Hispanic or Latino origin with participation of 69.8%. White, not Hispanic or Latino had a participation rate of 63.2%.
Participation rate for labor force prime working population 20 to 64 years of age was 78.8%. Male workers have a slightly higher participation rate (84.1%) compared to female workers (72.9%). People with a bachelor’s degree or higher have the highest participation rate at 88.1%, while those with less than a high school diploma have the lowest at 71.8%.
Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for quick facts about Franklin County.
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 70,525 | 66.3% | 5.3% |
| 16 to 19 years | 6,560 | 37.1% | 21.9% |
| 20 to 24 years | 6,936 | 83.1% | 7.0% |
| 25 to 29 years | 6,761 | 79.7% | 3.6% |
| 30 to 34 years | 7,468 | 81.7% | 3.5% |
| 35 to 44 years | 13,709 | 80.5% | 5.0% |
| 45 to 54 years | 10,769 | 81.9% | 4.4% |
| 55 to 59 years | 4,392 | 74.9% | 1.9% |
| 60 to 64 years | 4,073 | 54.8% | 2.5% |
| 65 to 74 years | 6,382 | 24.6% | 5.8% |
| 75 years and over | 3,475 | 3.3% | 0.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 37,809 | 64.4% | 4.1% |
| Black or African American alone | 1,411 | 54.9% | 19.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 1,007 | 65.5% | 3.0% |
| Asian alone | 1,465 | 63.3% | 8.2% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 137 | 70.8% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 15,256 | 71.1% | 5.1% |
| Two or more races | 13,440 | 67.6% | 7.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 35,517 | 69.8% | 5.8% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 29,515 | 63.2% | 4.0% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 54,108 | 78.8% | 4.4% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 28,718 | 84.1% | 4.4% |
| Female | 25,390 | 72.9% | 4.4% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 11,806 | 73.8% | 2.1% |
| With own children under 6 only | 2,716 | 70.3% | 0.4% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 2,869 | 63.0% | 0.8% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 6,221 | 80.3% | 3.1% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 5,825 | 49.0% | 17.3% |
| At or above the poverty level | 46,539 | 85.5% | 3.5% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 5,441 | 59.2% | 17.7% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 47,172 | 78.2% | 4.0% |
| Less than high school graduate | 11,462 | 71.8% | 7.5% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 12,519 | 75.6% | 4.7% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 13,541 | 78.8% | 2.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9,650 | 88.1% | 1.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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