- Posted February 2025
Summary
Nonfarm employment in Island County totaled 18,440 in December 2024 — up 160 from the revised November data. Leisure and hospitality gained 70. Education and health services gained 20. Service providing occupations were up 130.
The preliminary unemployment rate in Island County was 4.9% in December 2024 — a slight increase from the November rate of 4.8%. The unemployment rate was 5.0% in December 2023.
Geography
Island County is situated in the Salish Sea in northwest Washington. As its name suggests, it is made up of several islands. The two largest are Whidbey and Camano. Island County is the second smallest county in Washington by landmass, just larger than neighboring San Juan County. Island County is bounded to the north by Deception Pass and to the south by Puget Sound. Skagit Bay and Saratoga Passage are located to the east and Admiralty Inlet and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are west. Skagit and Snohomish counties lie to the east of Island County and the Olympic Peninsula lies across the water to the west.
Island County is one of six counties included in the Seattle-Tacoma Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA).
The largest employer is U.S. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor. Oak Harbor is the largest city in the county.
Island County is part of the Northwest Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.
Employment situation for December
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9% in December 2024, up from 4.8% in November 2024 and down slightly relative to 5.0% in December 2023.
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The labor force contracted by 1,652 or 4.5% over the year
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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Total nonfarm employment increased by 160 jobs from November 2024 to December 2024.
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Overall, employment growth has slowed as we enter winter.
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The largest one-month increases were observed in leisure and hospitality. Construction, trade transportation and utilities, and education and health services also added jobs in December.
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Total nonfarm employment shrunk by 110 jobs from December 2023 to December 2024. The largest decreases were seen in education and health services and in leisure and hospitality. Professional and business services added more jobs than any other sector over the same time.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Island 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 | 18,440 | 18,280 | 18,550 | 160 | -110 | -0.6% |
| Total Private | 13,650 | 13,460 | 13,810 | 190 | -160 | -1.2% |
| Goods Producing | 2,060 | 2,030 | 2,070 | 30 | -10 | -0.5% |
| ---Mining, Logging, and Construction | 1,290 | 1,260 | 1,330 | 30 | -40 | -3.0% |
| ---Manufacturing | 770 | 770 | 740 | 0 | 30 | 4.1% |
| Service Providing | 16,380 | 16,250 | 16,480 | 130 | -100 | -0.6% |
| ---Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 2,680 | 2,660 | 2,660 | 20 | 20 | 0.8% |
| -------Retail Trade | 2,200 | 2,180 | 2,180 | 20 | 20 | 0.9% |
| ---Information and Financial Activities | 900 | 900 | 960 | 0 | -60 | -6.3% |
| ---Professional and Business Services | 1,850 | 1,850 | 1,710 | 0 | 140 | 8.2% |
| ---Education and Health Services | 2720 | 2700 | 2860 | 20 | -140 | -4.9% |
| ---Leisure and Hospitality | 2,490 | 2,420 | 2,600 | 70 | -110 | -4.2% |
| ---Government | 4,790 | 4,820 | 4,740 | -30 | 50 | 1.1% |
| -------Federal Government | 1,400 | 1,400 | 1,350 | 0 | 50 | 3.7% |
| -------State and Local Government | 3,390 | 3,420 | 3,390 | -30 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -----------State and Local Government Education | 1,460 | 1,490 | 1,540 | -30 | -80 | -5.2% |
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, Island County 2023 annual average
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.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Island County was 18,095 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.
Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Washington state for all industries was $87,054 in 2023. The average annual wage in Island County was $55,071 in 2023.
Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
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Government (4,588)
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Retail trade (2,267)
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Accommodation and food services (2,220)
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Health care and social assistance (2,020)
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Construction (1,314)
The top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
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Professional, scientific, technical ($112,683)
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Finance and insurance ($106,646)
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Mining and Utilities* ($91,835)
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Wholesale trade ($84,675)
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Information ($74,181)
Workforce demographics in Island County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 73,254 | 57.0% | 4.7% |
| 16 to 19 years | 3,479 | 46.5% | 22.8% |
| 20 to 24 years | 5,779 | 91.2% | 11.9% |
| 25 to 29 years | 5,632 | 80.5% | 3.1% |
| 30 to 34 years | 5,445 | 82.9% | 3.6% |
| 35 to 44 years | 10,114 | 82.6% | 4.6% |
| 45 to 54 years | 8,285 | 81.7% | 3.1% |
| 55 to 59 years | 5,106 | 75.2% | 2.6% |
| 60 to 64 years | 6,774 | 49.7% | 3.0% |
| 65 to 74 years | 13,659 | 19.5% | 1.5% |
| 75 years and over | 8,981 | 8.9% | 0.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 59,206 | 54.6% | 4.7% |
| Black or African American alone | 2,014 | 76.8% | 5.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 717 | 71.5% | 3.8% |
| Asian alone | 3,777 | 62.9% | 5.7% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 281 | 91.1% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 1,467 | 78.5% | 2.4% |
| Two or more races | 5,792 | 61.3% | 4.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 5,209 | 75.8% | 6.6% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 57,586 | 53.9% | 4.4% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 47,135 | 77.8% | 4.3% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 24,351 | 84.9% | 4.6% |
| Female | 22,784 | 70.2% | 3.9% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 7,543 | 68.8% | 2.1% |
| With own children under 6 only | 2,419 | 68.6% | 4.5% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 1,787 | 64.7% | 0.9% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 3,337 | 71.1% | 1.3% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 3,314 | 35.6% | 11.3% |
| At or above the poverty level | 41,866 | 80.3% | 4.0% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 5,632 | 54.2% | 5.2% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 41,356 | 75.9% | 3.5% |
| Less than high school graduate | 1,946 | 61.4% | 9.6% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 10,107 | 76.7% | 3.1% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 16,605 | 73.7% | 3.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12,698 | 80.3% | 3.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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