Posted April 2025
Summary
Grant County has a labor supply of 37,937 workers as of February 2025. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 9.4%. Government jobs were up 220 over the year, mainly in the local government subsector. Nonfarm employment in Grant County was 34,290 in February 2025, an increase of 130 jobs from January 2025 and a increase of 920 jobs from January 2025. Federal government jobs decreased 20 over the year and 20 over the month. Agriculture, forestry and fishing make up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 8,187 out of 45,448 total annual average employment. The county has 2,495 establishments employing 34,290 workers, covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act during January 2025. 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 February 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Grant County was 8.9% during February 2025, up 1.0% from 7.9% in January 2025.
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The February 2025 labor force was 37,937 workers.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment
- Nonfarm employment in Grant County was 34,290 in February 2025, an increase of 130 jobs from January 2025 and an increase of 920 jobs from January 2025.
- Manufacturing increased by 30 jobs from January 2025 to February 2025 and increased by 50 jobs from January 2025.
- Construction decreased by 10 jobs from January 2025 to February 2025 and decreased by 100 jobs from January 2025.
- Trade transportation and utilities decreased by 260 jobs from February 2025 to February 2025 and increased 30 jobs from January 2025.
- Professional and business services increased 200 jobs from February 2025 to February 2025 and increased 20 jobs from January 2025.
- Leisure and hospitality accommodation and food services increased 270 jobs from February 2025 to February 2025 and decreased 60 jobs from January 2025.
- The government sector gained 190 jobs over the year and was unchanged over the month. Over the year job gains were mainly in local government at 190 jobs gained. The federal government lost 20 jobs.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Grant County
| NAICS Industry Title | Feb 2025 (Prelim) | Jan 2025 (Revised) | Feb 2024 (Revised) | Jan 2025 to Feb 2025 Change | Feb 2024 to Feb 2025 Change | Feb 2024 to Feb 2025 % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 34,290 | 34,160 | 33,370 | 130 | 920 | 2.8% |
| - Total private (total nonfarm less government) | 25,210 | 25,070 | 24,470 | 140 | 740 | 3.0% |
| - - Goods-producing | 6,260 | 6,210 | 6,330 | 50 | -70 | -1.1% |
| - - - - - Mining and logging | 50 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - - - - - Construction | 1,730 | 1,740 | 1,830 | -10 | -100 | -5.5% |
| - - - - Manufacturing | 4,480 | 4,430 | 4,450 | 50 | 30 | 0.7% |
| - - Service-providing | 28,030 | 27,940 | 27,040 | 90 | 990 | 3.7% |
| - - - - - Wholesale trade | 2,090 | 2,090 | 2,020 | 0 | 70 | 3.5% |
| - - - - - Retail trade | 3,580 | 3,560 | 3,460 | 20 | 120 | 3.5% |
| - - - - - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 1,180 | 1,240 | 1,130 | -60 | 50 | 4.4% |
| - - - - Information | 660 | 650 | 670 | 10 | -10 | -1.5% |
| - - - - Financial activities | 800 | 770 | 810 | 30 | -10 | -1.2% |
| - - - - Professional and business services | 3,380 | 3,360 | 3,180 | 20 | 200 | 6.3% |
| - - - - Private education and health services | 3,500 | 3,510 | 3,360 | -10 | 140 | 4.2% |
| - - - - Leisure and hospitality | 3,150 | 3,090 | 2,880 | 60 | 270 | 9.4% |
| - - - - Other services | 600 | 590 | 620 | 10 | -20 | -3.2% |
| - - Government | 9,090 | 9,090 | 8,900 | 0 | 190 | 2.1% |
Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024, updated March 28, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Industry employment (covered employment)
Employment by industry, Grant County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing (8,976 jobs)
- Local government (7,364 jobs)
- Manufacturing (4,532 jobs)
- Retail trade (3,538 jobs)
- Health services (3,114 jobs)
Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Grant County was $60,334, which was 69.3% of Washington state’s average annual wage of $87,091.
Top five sectors in terms of wages/payroll in 2023:
- Local government ($523.8 million)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing ($352.9 million)
- Manufacturing ($312.0 million)
- Professional and business services ($236.1 million)
- Wholesale trade ($177.4 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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