Island County profile

Learn about Island County's unique labor market information and more.

- Posted May 2025

April 2025 Highlights

In April, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4.3% to 3.9% and total nonfarm employment decreased by 30 jobs from March.

Summary

Total nonfarm employment was estimated at 16,690 jobs in April 2025. This is down 160 jobs compared to March 2025 and up 30 jobs over the year. The labor force in Island County has 36,121 workers. Within that estimate, 1424 workers were considered unemployed. The size of the labor force increased by 770 workers over the year. The unemployment rate in Island County decreased from 4.3% to 3.9% over the month.

Geography

 

A dark blue map of Washington state with Island County highlighted in orange.

 

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 April 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9% in April 2025, down from 4.3% in March 2025 and down relative to 4.2% in April 2024. 

  • The labor force increased by 770 workers from April 2024. In April 2025 there were an estimated 36,121 workers in Island County. 

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and Island County from January 2015 to April 2025

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics

Payroll employment

  • Total nonfarm employment decreased by 160 jobs from March, bringing the estimated job count to 18,690 jobs. The figure is up 30 jobs relative to April 2024. 

  • Construction employment was up 10 jobs from April 2024 and up 20 jobs from March 2025. 

  • Manufacturing was down 20 jobs from April 2024 and unchanged from March 2025. 

  • Retail trade was down 50 jobs from April 2024 and unchanged over the month. 

  • Professional and business services was down by 60 jobs over the year and 10 jobs from March 2025. 

  • Private education and health services was up 100 jobs from April 2024, however down 10 jobs from March 2025. 

  • Leisure and hospitality was up by 50 jobs from April 2024, however down 150 jobs from March 2025. 

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Island County

NAICS Industry Title Apr 2025 (Prelim) Mar 2025 (Revised) Apr 2024 (Revised) Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 18,690 18,850 18,660 -160 30 0.2%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 13,910 14,080 13,890 -170 20 0.1%
Goods-producing 2,010 1,990 2,010 20 0 0.0%
- Mining and logging 10 10 10 0 0 0.0%
- Construction 1,290 1,270 1,280 0 0 0.0%
- Manufacturing 700 700 720 10 10 1.4%
Service-providing 16,680 16,860 16,650 -180 30 0.2%
- Wholesale trade 280 280 260 0 20 7.7%
- Retail trade 2,120 2,120 2,170 0 -50 -2.3%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 250 250 250 0 0 0.0%
- Information 270 260 260 10 10 3.8%
- Financial activities 680 670 700 10 -20 -2.9%
- Professional and business services 1,800 1,810 1,860 -10 -60 -3.2%
- Private education and health services 2,900 2,910 2,800 -10 100 3.6%
- Leisure and hospitality 2,700 2,840 2,650 -140 50 1.9%
- Other services 900 950 930 -50 -30 -3.2%
- Government 4,780 4,770 4,780 10 0 0.0%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024, updated May 16, 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, Island County 2023 annual average

A bar graph showing the 2023 annual average industry employment in Island County.

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:

  • Government (4,588)

  • Retail trade (2,267)

  • Accommodation and food services (2,220)

  • Health care and social assistance (2,020)

  • Construction (1,314)

The top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

  • Professional, scientific, technical ($112,683)

  • Finance and insurance ($106,646)

  • Mining and Utilities* ($91,835)

  • Wholesale trade ($84,675)

  • 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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