Posted February 2025
Summary
Grant County has a labor supply of 47,997 workers as of December 2024, up 1,281 workers from 46,716 workers in December 2023. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 6.7%. 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 an annual average of 33,900 workers, covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act during December 2024. 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 December 2024
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Grant County was 6.7% during December 2024, down 0.8% from 7.5% in December 2023.
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The December 2024 labor force was 47,997 workers, an increase of 1,281 workers from December 2023.
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 33,900 in December 2024, an increase of 200 jobs from December 2023 and an increase of 30 jobs from November 2024.
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Manufacturing increased by 90 jobs from December 2023 to December 2024 and increased 10 jobs from November 2024.
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Retail trade increased by 50 jobs from December 2023 to December 2024 and increased 30 jobs from November 2024.
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Professional and business services decreased 80 jobs from December 2023 to December 2024 and decreased 230 jobs from November 2024.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Grant County
| NAICS Industry Title | Dec 2024 (Preliminary) | Nov 2024 (Revised) | Dec 2023 (Revised) | Nov 2024 to Dec 2024 change | Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 change | Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Nonfarm | 33,900 | 33,870 | 33,700 | 30 | 200 | 0.6% |
| Total Private | 25,010 | 25,050 | 24,640 | -40 | 370 | 1.5% |
| Goods Producing | 6,490 | 6,450 | 6,440 | 40 | 50 | 0.8% |
| ---Mining, Logging, and Construction | 2,150 | 2,120 | 2,010 | 30 | 140 | 7.0% |
| ---Manufacturing | 4,340 | 4,330 | 4,430 | 10 | -90 | -2.0% |
| -------Durable Goods | 1,490 | 1,500 | 1,640 | -10 | -150 | -9.1% |
| -------Nondurable Goods | 2,850 | 2,830 | 2,790 | 20 | 60 | 2.2% |
| Service Providing | 27,410 | 27,420 | 27,260 | -10 | 150 | 0.6% |
| ---Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 6,800 | 6,750 | 6,670 | 50 | 130 | 1.9% |
| -------Wholesale Trade | 2,030 | 2,020 | 1,920 | 10 | 110 | 5.7% |
| -------Retail Trade | 3620 | 3590 | 3570 | 30 | 50 | 1.4% |
| -------Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 1,150 | 1,140 | 1,180 | 10 | -30 | -2.5% |
| ---Information and Financial Activities | 1,460 | 1,460 | 1,480 | 0 | -20 | -1.4% |
| ---Professional and Business Services | 3,040 | 3,270 | 3,120 | -230 | -80 | -2.6% |
| ---Education and Health Services | 3,540 | 3,510 | 3,340 | 30 | 200 | 6.0% |
| ---Leisure and Hospitality | 3,080 | 3,030 | 2,990 | 50 | 90 | 3.0% |
| ---Government | 8,890 | 8,820 | 9,060 | 70 | -170 | -1.9% |
| -------Federal Government | 730 | 720 | 700 | 10 | 30 | 4.3% |
| -------State and Local Government | 8,160 | 8,100 | 8,360 | 60 | -200 | -2.4% |
| -----------State and Local Government Education | 4,030 | 4,050 | 4,130 | -20 | -100 | -2.4% |
Note: Data benchmarked through June 2024, updated Jan. 16, 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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