Kittitas County profile

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

Posted July 2025
 

June 2025 highlights

In June, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5%, which decreased from 4.3% May. Total nonfarm employment decreased by 0.8% compared to June 2024.

Summary

Kittitas County’s economy is diverse, with key contributions from government, education, retail trade, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing. The county is known for its agricultural heritage, though government employment remains the largest sector, with an annual average of 4,557 jobs.

Total covered employment in Kittitas County was approximately 16,780 jobs in 2023. The annual average unemployment rate was around 5.1% in 2023, with a slight decline to 4.0% in early 2025. Retail trade and leisure and hospitality have shown growth, while government employment has seen some declines.

Workforce development initiatives focus on skill enhancement, particularly in education and retail, ensuring a competitive local workforce. Efforts to diversify the economy include supporting small businesses and promoting tourism, leveraging the county’s scenic beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. Kittitas County’s 16-and-older population was 37,765 in 2023.

Geography

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

 

Kittitas County is in the center of the state, 107 miles east of Seattle. It is nestled between the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Columbia River to the east. With 2,297.3 square miles, it is the eighth largest county in Washington by land area.

Employment situation for June 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • Compared to June 2024, Kittitas County total labor force, employment and unemployment decreased.

  • Kittitas County has over 21,948 people in the labor force, 810 workers (3.6%) fewer than June 2024. The employed workforce decreased by 733 workers (3.3%) and unemployed workers decreased by 77 workers (9.2%). About 762 people were unemployed and looking for work.

  • The unemployment rate in the county was 3.5% in June 2025, which was 4.3% less than May and 3.7% less compared to June 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and Kittitas County from January 2014 to June 2025.

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

Payroll employment

  • Kittitas County had total nonfarm employment of 17,830 jobs, a decrease of 140 jobs (0.8%) compared to June 2024. The private sector contracted by 120 jobs (1.1%), while government employment decreased by 30 jobs (0.5%) compared to June 2024.

  • Industries with growth include trade, transportation, and utilities (up 30 jobs, 1.1%), leisure and hospitality (up 20 jobs, 0.7%), and other services (up 10 jobs, 2.3%).

  • Industries facing declines include financial activities (down 60 jobs, 15.8%), private education and health services (down 60 jobs, 3.4%), mining, logging, and construction  (down 40 jobs, 2.7%), and manufacturing (down 20 jobs, 3.1%).

  • Government employment trends reflect continued shifts, with federal positions holding steady. Local government added 80 jobs (2.8%), while state government declined by 3.1%, shedding 110 jobs, most of which occurred within state government education, down 2.8% (90 jobs).

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Kittitas County

NAICS Industry Title Jun 2025 (Prelim) May 2025 (Revised) Jun 2024 (Revised) May 2025 to Jun 2025 Change Jun 2024 to Jun 2025 Change Jun 2024 to Jun 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 17,830 17,780 17,970 50 -140 -0.8%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 11,290 11,290 11,410 0 -120 -1.1%
Goods-producing 2,050 2,060 2,110 -10 -60 -2.8%
- Mining and logging 20 20 30 0 -10 -33.3%
- Construction 1,410 1,400 1,440 10 -30 -2.1%
- Manufacturing 620 640 640 -20 -20 -3.1%
Service-providing 15,780 15,720 15,860 60 -80 -0.5%
- Wholesale trade 560 560 560 0 0 0.0%
- Retail trade 1,860 1,850 1,860 10 0 0.0%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 330 330 290 0 40 13.8%
- Information 160 170 160 -10 0 0.0%
- Financial activities 320 330 380 -10 -60 -15.8%
- Professional and business services 840 830 840 10 0 0.0%
- Private education and health services 1,680 1,700 1,740 -20 -60 -3.4%
- Leisure and hospitality 3,040 3,020 3,020 20 20 0.7%
- Other services 450 440 440 10 10 2.3%
- Government 6,530 6,490 6,560 40 -30 -0.5%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024, updated July 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, Kittitas County 2023 annual average

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

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)

Covered employment, or Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) data, include agricultural and nonagricultural employment and wages for firms, organizations and individuals whose employees are covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Covered employment generally exceeds 85% of total employment in the state of Washington. Average annual covered employment in 2023 in Kittitas County was 16,780. The average annual wage was $51,268 which was 58.9% of Washington state’s average annual wage of $87,091.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Government (4,557 jobs)
  • Accommodation and food services (2,498 jobs)
  • Retail trade (1,871 jobs)
  • Construction (1,355 jobs)
  • State government (1,777 jobs)
  • Health care and social assistance (1,346)

Top sectors in terms of total wages paid in 2023:

  • Government ($315.3 million)
  • Construction ($90.5 million)
  • Accommodation and food services ($74.3 million)
  • Retail trade ($65.8 million)
  • Health care and social assistance ($60.3 million)

Workforce demographics in Kittitas County

Kittitas County’s 16 and older population was 37,765 in 2023. The labor force participation rate in Kittitas County was 61.4% with an average unemployment rate of 5.1%.

Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Kittitas County.

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 37,765 61.4% 5.1%
16 to 19 years 3,452 50.6% 23.6%
20 to 24 years 5,037 73.2% 8.3%
25 to 29 years 3,041 88.0% 5.4%
30 to 34 years 2,610 85.1% 1.9%
35 to 44 years 4,899 78.3% 2.4%
45 to 54 years 5,039 81.3% 0.7%
55 to 59 years 2,510 74.1% 3.2%
60 to 64 years 3,486 48.5% 3.9%
65 to 74 years 4,768 26.4% 2.4%
75 years and over 2,923 3.6% 9.6%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 31,768 60.1% 4.6%
Black or African American alone 472 68.0% 9.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 185 55.1% 0.0%
Asian alone 656 56.3% 1.1%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 48 56.3% 0.0%
Some other race alone 1,946 72.9% 3.8%
Two or more races 2,690 68.4% 12.3%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 3,398 72.0% 5.1%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 30,812 60.2% 4.5%
Population 20 to 64 years 26,622 75.4% 3.7%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 13,518 79.3% 4.4%
Female 13,104 71.3% 2.8%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 3,954 68.8% 0.7%
With own children under 6 only 784 73.0% 3.1%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 489 58.9% 0.0%
With own children 6 to 17 only 2,681 69.4% 0.0%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 3,953 44.5% 11.8%
At or above the poverty level 22,078 81.8% 2.7%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 3,047 46.6% 10.8%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 21,585 75.9% 2.6%
Less than high school graduate 1,654 57.4% 5.3%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 5,804 74.0% 2.7%
Some college or associate's degree 6,167 70.6% 2.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher 7,960 85.2% 2.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status

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