Posted December 2025
September 2025 highlights
In September, the not seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate decreased from 5.6% to 4.6%. Total nonfarm employment decreased by 350 jobs in Grant County from September 2024 to September 2025.
Summary
Grant County has a labor supply of 46,674 workers as of September 2025 and the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 4.6%. Nonfarm employment in Grant County was 34,340 in September 2025, a decrease of 350 jobs from September 2024 but an increase of 330 jobs from August 2025. Agriculture, forestry and fishing make up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 9,326 out of 43,169 total annual average employment in 2024. The county has 2,522 establishments. Grant County’s 16 and older population was 75,012 in 2023.
Geography
Grant County is in central Washington. The county has a large lake where it’s largest city, Moses Lake, surrounds it and takes the name.
Employment situation for September 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6% during September 2025, up from 4.1% in September 2024.
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The September 2025 labor force of 46,674 workers decreased by 1,226 from September 2024.
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The total number of employed workers was 44,542, a decrease of 1,396 workers from September 2024 to September 2025.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment
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Nonfarm employment in Grant County was 34,340 in September 2025, a decrease of 350 jobs from September 2024 but an increase of 330 jobs from August 2025.
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Manufacturing decreased by 20 jobs from August 2025 to September 2025 and decreased by 110 jobs from September 2024.
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Construction increased by 100 jobs from September 2024 to September 2025 but was unchanged over the month.
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Retail trade increased by 60 jobs from August 2025 to September 2025 and increased by 50 jobs from September 2024.
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Professional and business services increased by 50 jobs from September 2024 to September 2025 and increased by 40 jobs over the month.
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Health care and social assistance decreased by 150 jobs from September 2024 to September 2025 but increased 20 jobs over the month.
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Leisure and hospitality decreased by 130 jobs from September 2024 to September 2025 but increased by 30 jobs over the month.
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The government sector decreased by 50 jobs from September 2024 to September 2025 but increased by 120 jobs over the month.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Grant County
| 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 | 34,340 | 34,010 | 34,690 | 330 | -350 | -1.0% |
| Total private (total nonfarm less government) | 25,570 | 25,370 | 25,880 | 200 | -310 | -1.2% |
| Goods-producing | 6,500 | 6,530 | 6,510 | -30 | -10 | -0.2% |
| - Mining and logging | 50 | 50 | 40 | 0 | 10 | 25.0% |
| - Construction | 1,900 | 1,900 | 1,800 | 0 | 100 | 5.6% |
| - Manufacturing | 4,560 | 4,580 | 4,670 | -20 | -110 | -2.4% |
| Service-providing | 27,830 | 27,480 | 28,180 | 350 | -350 | -1.2% |
| - Wholesale trade | 2,070 | 2,050 | 2,160 | 20 | -90 | -4.2% |
| - Retail trade | 3,600 | 3,550 | 3,540 | 50 | 60 | 1.7% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 1,320 | 1,340 | 1,350 | -20 | -30 | -2.2% |
| - Information | 720 | 680 | 700 | 40 | 20 | 2.9% |
| - Financial activities | 790 | 780 | 820 | 10 | -30 | -3.7% |
| - Professional and business services | 3,380 | 3,340 | 3,330 | 40 | 50 | 1.5% |
| - Private education and health services | 3,410 | 3,380 | 3,550 | 30 | -140 | -3.9% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 3,100 | 3,070 | 3,230 | 30 | -130 | -4.0% |
| - Other services | 680 | 660 | 690 | 20 | -10 | -1.4% |
| - Government | 8,760 | 8,640 | 8,810 | 120 | -50 | -0.6% |
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.
Industry employment (covered employment)
Employment by industry, Grant County 2024 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in 2024 in Grant County was 43,169. Covered employment refers to workers who received wages in Washington state and are eligible for state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) compensation programs.
Top sectors in terms of employment in 2024:
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing (9,326 jobs)
- Government (8,883 jobs)
- Manufacturing (4,587 jobs)
- Retail trade (3,540 jobs)
- Healthcare and social assistance (3,226 jobs)
Wages vary by industry sector. The average annual wage in Grant County was $63,542, which was 68.7% of Washington state’s average annual wage of $92,467.
Top five sectors in terms of total wages paid in 2024:
- Government ($685.5 million)
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing ($387.8 million)
- Manufacturing ($342.9 million)
- Professional and business services ($255 million)
- Wholesale trade ($193.6 million)
Workforce demographics for Grant County
Grant County’s 16 and older population was 75,012 in 2023. The labor force participation rate in Grant County was 63.3% with an average unemployment rate of 6.9%.
Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Grant County.
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 75,012 | 62.6% | 6.3% |
| 16 to 19 years | 6,418 | 44.4% | 12.3% |
| 20 to 24 years | 6,605 | 77.7% | 14.2% |
| 25 to 29 years | 6,945 | 82.4% | 4.0% |
| 30 to 34 years | 6,781 | 78.9% | 2.9% |
| 35 to 44 years | 12,116 | 81.8% | 4.2% |
| 45 to 54 years | 10,846 | 81.3% | 5.4% |
| 55 to 59 years | 5,289 | 71.8% | 8.9% |
| 60 to 64 years | 5,619 | 53.4% | 7.0% |
| 65 to 74 years | 8,714 | 22.4% | 3.3% |
| 75 years and over | 5,679 | 7.7% | 0.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 46,100 | 57.3% | 5.7% |
| Black or African American alone | 903 | 55.5% | 8.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 1,239 | 67.2% | 10.5% |
| Asian alone | 946 | 78.4% | 15.2% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 18 | 27.8% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 15,352 | 73.1% | 6.0% |
| Two or more races | 10,454 | 69.4% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 28,585 | 74.0% | 6.5% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 41,058 | 55.4% | 6.0% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 54,201 | 77.0% | 6.1% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 28,198 | 82.6% | 6.4% |
| Female | 26,003 | 70.9% | 5.7% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 10,978 | 73.0% | 3.9% |
| With own children under 6 only | 1,928 | 67.6% | 1.5% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 3,457 | 65.5% | 5.6% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 5,593 | 79.5% | 3.8% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 7,811 | 50.2% | 20.8% |
| At or above the poverty level | 46,207 | 81.8% | 4.6% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 6,934 | 43.6% | 10.7% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 47,596 | 76.9% | 5.0% |
| Less than high school graduate | 9,348 | 72.8% | 5.5% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 13,532 | 74.0% | 4.7% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 15,901 | 77.1% | 3.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8,815 | 85.2% | 8.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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