- Posted April 2025
Summary
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3 % in February 2025, up from 4.7% in January 2025 and down from 6.7% in February 2024. Kitsap County’s labor force has 119,259 workers. Total nonfarm employment at 96,900 jobs increased by 1,700 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and decreased by 100 jobs from January 2025. Government employment at 35,800 jobs increased by 1,000 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and increased by 100 jobs from January 2025. Federal government contributed 300 jobs of over the year gain and local government contributed for 700 jobs.
Location
Kitsap County is the northern end of the Kitsap Peninsula, jutting into the Puget Sound between the Olympic Peninsula to the west and King County to the east. It is between Hood Canal and Admiralty Strait. Water transportation is dominant in the culture and economy. The county seat is Port Orchard.
Kitsap County is one of the smallest counties in the state in terms of land area at about 395 square miles. It ranks third, however, in the state in terms of its population density, with 750 people per square mile.
Kitsap County is synonymous with the Bremerton-Silverdale Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Kitsap County is part of the Olympic Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.
Employment situation for February 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3 % in February 2025, up from 4.7% in January 2025 and down from 6.7% in February 2024.
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The labor force at 119,259 workers contracted 3,719 workers 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 at 96,900 jobs increased by 1,700 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and decreased by 100 jobs from January 2025.
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Trade, transportation and utilities employment at 13,500 jobs increased by 200 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and was unchanged from January 2025.
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Professional and business services employment at 9,700 jobs increased by 200 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and was unchanged from January 2025.
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Mining, logging and construction employment at 4,600 jobs decreased by 100 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and decreased by 100 jobs from January 2025.
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Manufacturing employment jobs increased by 100 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and was unchanged from January 2025.
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Government employment at 35,800 jobs increased by 1,000 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and increased by 100 jobs from January 2025. Federal government accounted for 300 jobs of the over the year gain and local government accounted for 700 jobs of the gain.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Kitsap 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 | 96,900 | 97,000 | 95,200 | -100 | 1,700 | 1.8% |
| - Total private (total nonfarm less government) | 61,100 | 61,300 | 60,400 | -200 | 700 | 1.2% |
| - - Goods-producing | 7,200 | 7,300 | 7,200 | -100 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - - - - Mining, logging and construction | 4,600 | 4,700 | 4,700 | -100 | -100 | -2.1% |
| - - - - Manufacturing | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,500 | 0 | 100 | 4.0% |
| - - Service-providing | 89,700 | 89,700 | 88,000 | 0 | 1,700 | 1.9% |
| - - - - Trade, transportation, and utilities | 13,500 | 13,500 | 13,300 | 0 | 200 | 1.5% |
| - - - - - Retail trade | 10,600 | 10,600 | 10,600 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - - - - Professional and business services | 9,700 | 9,700 | 9,500 | 0 | 200 | 2.1% |
| - - - - Leisure and hospitality | 9,300 | 9,400 | 9,400 | -100 | -100 | -1.1% |
| - - - Government | 35,800 | 35,700 | 34,800 | 100 | 1,000 | 2.9% |
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, Kitsap County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Kitsap County was 93,040 in 2023. Covered employment refers to state workers covered by state unemployment insurance (UI) laws and federal workers covered by federal unemployment compensation program.
Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
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Government (33,850)
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Health care and social assistance (12,227)
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Retail trade (10,803)
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Accommodation and food services (8,413)
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Professional, scientific and technical services (5,615)
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 Kitsap County for all industries was $67,613 in 2023.
Top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
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Information ($128,317)
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Utilities ($124,893)
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Management of companies and enterprises ($99,098)
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Professional, scientific and technical services ($97,273)
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Finance and insurance ($90,796)
Workforce demographics in Kitsap County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 227,461 | 61.9% | 4.8% |
| 16 to 19 years | 11,552 | 44.0% | 18.9% |
| 20 to 24 years | 19,485 | 89.5% | 8.2% |
| 25 to 29 years | 19,980 | 82.9% | 5.0% |
| 30 to 34 years | 20,072 | 81.0% | 4.6% |
| 35 to 44 years | 36,023 | 83.1% | 3.9% |
| 45 to 54 years | 30,759 | 78.7% | 3.0% |
| 55 to 59 years | 18,392 | 72.2% | 3.4% |
| 60 to 64 years | 18,333 | 54.6% | 3.0% |
| 65 to 74 years | 32,537 | 20.7% | 5.9% |
| 75 years and over | 20,328 | 6.3% | 1.5% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| White alone | 178,473 | 60.4% | 4.6% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black or African American alone | 5,853 | 70.9% | 1.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 2,276 | 63.8% | 4.4% |
| Asian alone | 11,795 | 61.7% | 4.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 1,976 | 57.7% | 4.5% |
| Some other race alone | 5,523 | 74.2% | 5.0% |
| Two or more races | 21,565 | 69.1% | 7.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 17,894 | 71.6% | 5.7% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 172,926 | 59.8% | 4.6% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 163,044 | 78.3% | 4.2% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 86,143 | 86.2% | 4.2% |
| Female | 76,901 | 69.5% | 4.3% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 26,645 | 65.8% | 3.4% |
| With own children under 6 only | 7,524 | 59.8% | 3.6% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 4,940 | 56.8% | 5.1% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 14,181 | 72.2% | 2.8% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 13,119 | 42.1% | 19.1% |
| At or above the poverty level | 145,050 | 81.2% | 3.5% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 18,965 | 50.3% | 10.6% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 143,559 | 76.8% | 3.8% |
| Less than high school graduate | 6,862 | 56.5% | 8.4% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 31,765 | 71.0% | 6.5% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 54,335 | 76.9% | 3.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50,597 | 83.0% | 2.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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