- Posted April 2025
March 2025 Highlights
In March, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 5.6% to 4.3% and total nonfarm employment increased by 260.
Summary
Total nonfarm employment was estimated at 18,820 in March 2025. This is up 260 compared to February 2025 and up 50 jobs over the year. The labor force in Island County included 36,225 workers. Within that estimate, 1,574 were considered unemployed. The size of the labor force increased by 248 over the year. The Unemployment rate in Island County decreased from 5.6% to 4.3% in March 2025.
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 March 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3% in March 2025, down from 5.6% in February 2025 and down relative to 5.1% in March 2024.
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The labor force increased by 248 workers over the year. In March there were an estimated 36,225 workers in Island County.
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 260 jobs over the month, bringing the estimated job count to 18,820. This is up 50 jobs relative to March 2024.
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The largest one-month job increases were attributable to hiring in leisure and hospitality (up 130), government (up 80) and financial activities (up 20). Retail trade was the only sector reporting net losses in March 2025.
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Over the year, the sectors reporting the largest gains were education and health services and government; each added 50 jobs. The deepest one-year losses were reported in retail trade (down 60) and professional and business services (down 30).
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Island County
| NAICS Industry Title | Mar 2025 (Prelim) | Feb 2025 (Revised) | Mar 2024 (Revised) | Feb 2025 to Mar 2025 Change | Mar 2024 to Mar 2025 Change | Mar 2024 to Mar 2025 % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 18,820 | 18,560 | 18,770 | 260 | 50 | 0.3% |
| Total private (total nonfarm less government) | 13,960 | 13,770 | 13,960 | 190 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Goods-producing | 2,070 | 2,050 | 2,050 | 20 | 20 | 1.0% |
| - Mining and logging | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Construction | 1,290 | 1,280 | 1,290 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Manufacturing | 770 | 760 | 750 | 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Service-providing | 16,760 | 16,510 | 16,720 | 250 | 40 | 0.2% |
| - Wholesale trade | 260 | 250 | 250 | 10 | 10 | 4.0% |
| - Retail trade | 2,120 | 2,130 | 2,180 | -10 | -60 | -2.8% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 240 | 240 | 250 | 0 | -10 | -4.0% |
| - Information | 270 | 260 | 250 | 10 | 20 | 8.0% |
| - Financial activities | 670 | 650 | 690 | 20 | -20 | -2.9% |
| - Professional and business services | 1,880 | 1,870 | 1,910 | 10 | -30 | -1.6% |
| - Private education and health services | 2,860 | 2,850 | 2,810 | 10 | 50 | 1.8% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 2,640 | 2,510 | 2,610 | 130 | 30 | 1.1% |
| - Other services | 970 | 970 | 950 | 0 | 20 | 2.1% |
| - Government | 4,860 | 4,780 | 4,810 | 80 | 50 | 1.0% |
Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024, updated April 17, 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
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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