- Looking for another county? Expand this drop-down menu to select another profile.
December 2025 highlights
Updated January 2026
Compared to November 2025, the unemployment rate increased from 4.6% to 5.5% (1,266 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 180 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 17,970 jobs).
Kittitas County's labor market highlights
- While known for agriculture, the county’s economy is diverse, with meaningful employment in manufacturing, construction, education and government.
- Agriculture still employs 6.3% of workers, maintaining the county’s rural heritage.
- Kittitas County maintains a diverse and resilient economy, anchored by government employment, largely driven by Central Washington University, which accounts for over one‑quarter of all jobs. Tourism related industries, including accommodation, food services and retail trade, continue to expand, reflecting the county’s strong outdoor recreation and visitor economy.
- In 2024, the county recorded 16,775 covered jobs with an average annual wage of $54,172 and total payroll nearing $909 million. High wage sectors such as finance, construction and government outperform the county average, signaling strong opportunities for skilled labor.
- Workforce participation stands at 61.4%, indicating moderate labor availability. Ongoing workforce development efforts emphasize skill growth in education, retail and construction, supporting both economic diversification and small‑business vitality.
Contact Kittitas County's labor economist
Ajsa Suljic, South central / Southeast region
- Email Ajsa: ajsa.suljic@esd.wa.gov
- Call Ajsa: 509-734-5928
Kittitas County is part of the South Central Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Employment updates for December 2025
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The December 2025 unemployment rate is 5.5% in Kittitas County, 5.3% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Kittitas County unemployment rate | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 22,924 | 23,195 | 22,285 |
| Employed persons | 21,658 | 22,121 | 21,139 |
| Persons seeking work | 1,266 | 1,074 | 1,146 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 4.6% | 5.1% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Kittitas County unemployment rate, 2023 to 2025
As of September 2025, Kittitas County’s unemployment rate declined to 3.9%, reflecting stronger month‑to‑month labor market conditions as employment rose by 244 people.
Kittitas County’s labor market strengthened in the short term, with more people finding work and unemployment easing. But compared to last year, the overall workforce has thinned, suggesting some longer‑term cooling.
Seasonal patterns tied to tourism and the university continue to shape these shifts, creating a mix of short‑term improvement and year‑over‑year softness.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5.3% | 5.8% | 5.0% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 5.4% |
|
5.7% | 6.0% | 5.1% | 4.0% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 4.7% | 4.8% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.6% | 5.1% |
|
4.7% | 5.0% | 4.0% | 3.3% | 4.3% | 3.4% | 4.3% | 4.5% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 5.5% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Key changes in payroll employment
This includes all employees with paid positions tracked in a company’s payroll system. This doesn’t include persons working outside of formal payroll such as freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals. Numbers in this section are estimates generated by a monthly survey.
In December 2025, Kittitas County had 17,970 jobs.
One month ago, in November 2025 there were 180 more jobs (18,150 in total).
Compared to that month, in December there are:
- 10 more jobs in Mining, logging, and construction, indicating slight growth in resource‑related and construction activity
- 10 more jobs in Other services, reflecting a minor monthly uptick
- 10 more jobs in Financial activities, marking a small monthly increase
- 10 more jobs in Private education and health services, supported by gains in health care and social assistance
- Other noteworthy job changes occurred in Trade, transportation, and utilities (-70 jobs), driven entirely by a 70‑job decline in retail trade, Leisure and hospitality (-70 jobs), with declines across arts, entertainment and accommodation, food services; and Government (-60 jobs), led by a 100‑job decline in state government, partly offset by a 20‑job increase in local government.
In December 2024, there were 40 fewer jobs (17,930 in total)
Compared to that month, this December there are:
- 90 (3.4%) more jobs in Trade, transportation, and utilities, supported by gains across retail and transportation. Main driver of growth being Retail trade (+70), reflecting stronger consumer activity over the year
- 20 (8.3%) more jobs in Transportation and warehousing, marking one of the fastest‑growing subsectors
- 20 (5.7%) more jobs in Financial activities, continuing a steady upward trend
- 30 (3.8%) more jobs in Professional and business services, signaling ongoing demand for specialized and technical services
- Other noteworthy job changes occurred in Leisure and hospitality by adding 90 jobs (2.8%), consistent with continued recovery in consumer‑facing industries. Other services added 20 more jobs (4.7%), showing moderate annual growth. Manufacturing had 20 fewer jobs (3.2%), the only notable private‑sector decline over the year, and Government employment had 260 fewer jobs (4.0%), driven by losses in state government education (8.1%).
Employment estimates for Kittitas County
See a snapshot of this month's data below. A detailed spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted is on the source page of our site.
Total jobs
| Industry | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 | Nov 2025 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 17,970 | 18,150 | 17,930 | -180 | 40 | 0.2% |
| - Private | 11,670 | 11,790 | 11,360 | -120 | 310 | 2.7% |
| - Government | 6,300 | 6,360 | 6,560 | -60 | -260 | -4.0% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 | Nov 2025 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 2,130 | 2,130 | 2,080 | 0 | 50 | 2.4% |
| - Mining and logging | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Construction | 1,500 | 1,500 | 1,420 | 0 | 80 | 5.6% |
| - Manufacturing | 610 | 610 | 630 | 0 | -20 | -3.2% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 | Nov 2025 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 15,830 | 16,020 | 15,850 | -190 | -20 | -0.1% |
| - Wholesale trade | 560 | 570 | 550 | -10 | 10 | 1.8% |
| - Retail trade | 1,870 | 1,940 | 1,800 | -70 | 70 | 3.9% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 310 | 310 | 300 | 0 | 10 | 3.3% |
| - Information | 160 | 160 | 160 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Financial activities | 370 | 360 | 350 | 10 | 20 | 5.7% |
| - Professional and business services | 830 | 830 | 800 | 0 | 30 | 3.8% |
| - Private education and health services | 1,730 | 1,720 | 1,730 | 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 3,260 | 3,330 | 3,170 | -70 | 90 | 2.8% |
| - Other services | 450 | 440 | 430 | 10 | 20 | 4.7% |
| - Government | 6,300 | 6,360 | 6,560 | -60 | -260 | -4.0% |
Note: Data benchmarked through June 2025, updated January 16, 2026. The current month’s data is preliminary. Analysts continue to refine past months as more related information becomes available. Industry columns uses North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry titles. Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Employment details for industries and sectors
This profile section uses Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) data.
This quarterly census data includes both agricultural and nonagricultural employment and wages for firms, organizations and individuals with employees covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Covered employment refers to the total number of employees with this type of coverage.
Top sectors by employment
2024’s annual average was 16,775 total covered employees.
- Government - 4,656 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 2,541 jobs.
- Retail trade - 1,831 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 1,414 jobs.
- Construction - 1,378 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $54,172 for covered employees.
- Finance and insurance - $75,298.
- Construction - $73,235.
- Government - $72,167.
- Wholesale trade - $71,658.
- Information - $71,326.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW
Workforce demographics in 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
Funding
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, expressed or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.