Okanogan County profile

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

Posted April 2025
 

March 2025 Highlights

In March, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 6.6% to 5.9% over the year and total nonfarm employment increased by 470 jobs over the year.

Summary

Okanogan County’s labor supply is 18,104 workers with a not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.9%. Total nonfarm employment during March 2025 was 13,790 jobs, an increase of 470 jobs from March 2024 and an increase of 250 jobs over the month. Government jobs increased by 90 jobs over the year and increased by 80 jobs over the month. The monthly job gains from January 2025 were concentrated in the local government subsector. The government sector makes up the largest industry with an annual average employment of 5,085 jobs out of 17,037 total annual average employment. The county has 1,474 establishments employing workers covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. The population of people ages 16 and above is 34,281.

Geography

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

 

Okanogan County is in north Washington on the Canadian border east of the midline of the state. The county is the largest of Washington’s counties by land area.

Employment situation for March 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.9% during March 2025, down from 6.6% March 2024.   
  • The labor force totaled 18,104 workers, a decrease of 361 workers since March 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

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

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

Payroll employment

  • Total nonfarm employment during March 2025 was 13,790 jobs, an increase of 470 jobs from March 2024 and an increase of 250 jobs over the month.
  • Retail trade increased 60 jobs from March 2024 and increased 30 jobs over the month.
  • Leisure and hospitality increased 50 jobs from March 2024, however decreased 40 jobs over the month.
  • Professional and business services increased 40 jobs from March 2024 and was unchanged over the month.
  • Government jobs increased by 170 jobs from March 2024 and increased by 150 jobs over the month. The monthly job gains from March 2025 were concentrated in the local government subsector.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Okanogan 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 13,790 13,540 13,320 250 470 3.5%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 8,450 8,340 8,150 110 300 3.7%
Goods-producing 1,250 1,220 1,220 30 30 2.5%
- Mining and logging 70 60 100 10 -30 -30.0%
- Construction 600 600 550 0 50 9.1%
- Manufacturing 570 560 570 10 0 0.0%
Service-providing 12,540 12,310 12,100 230 440 3.6%
- Wholesale trade 220 210 210 10 10 4.8%
- Retail trade 2,060 2,030 2,000 30 60 3.0%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 370 330 360 40 10 2.8%
- Information 120 120 120 0 0 0.0%
- Financial activities 280 280 270 0 10 3.7%
- Professional and business services 700 700 660 0 40 6.1%
- Private education and health services 1,770 1,760 1,750 10 20 1.1%
- Leisure and hospitality 1,310 1,350 1,260 -40 50 4.0%
- Other services 360 340 330 20 30 9.1%
- Government 5,340 5,190 5,170 150 170 3.3%

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, Okanogan County 2023 annual average

 A bar graph showing the 2023 annual average industry employment in Okanogan 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 Okanogan County was 17,037. The average annual wage was $44,955 which was 51.6% of Washington state’s average annual wage of $87,091.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Government (5,085 jobs)
  • Agriculture, forestry, and fishing and hunting (3,614 jobs)
  • Retail trade (2,267 jobs)
  • Health care and social assistance (1,635 jobs)
  • Accommodation and food services (1,138 jobs)

Top sectors in terms of total wages paid in 2023:

  • Government ($313.3 million)
  • Agriculture, forestry, and fishing and hunting ($ 111.8 million)
  • Retail trade ($81.8 million)
  • Health care and social assistance ($78.7 million)
  • Accommodation and food services ($28.4 million)

Workforce demographics in Okanogan County

Okanogan County’s 16 and older population was 34,281 in 2023. The labor force participation rate was 56.3% with an average unemployment rate of 4.8%.

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

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 34,281 56.3% 4.8%
16 to 19 years 1,644 38.9% 16.4%
20 to 24 years 2,017 81.0% 7.7%
25 to 29 years 2,613 77.8% 4.4%
30 to 34 years 2,370 73.8% 6.9%
35 to 44 years 4,964 83.7% 4.4%
45 to 54 years 4,839 82.9% 3.6%
55 to 59 years 2,742 65.9% 2.2%
60 to 64 years 3,275 47.6% 5.6%
65 to 74 years 6,159 24.2% 1.7%
75 years and over 3,658 6.6% 2.5%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 24,012 51.1% 3.5%
Black or African American alone 693 88.0% 1.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 2,800 58.3% 8.0%
Asian alone 181 58.0% 13.3%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 43 100.0% 0.0%
Some other race alone 2,988 78.8% 8.8%
Two or more races 3,564 64.7% 6.1%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 5,594 75.4% 5.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 23,381 51.1% 3.5%
Population 20 to 64 years 22,820 74.3% 4.7%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 11,743 80.7% 5.7%
Female 11,077 67.5% 3.3%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 4,204 67.3% 3.8%
With own children under 6 only 780 52.2% 8.8%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 1,026 48.4% 1.2%
With own children 6 to 17 only 2,398 80.3% 3.4%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 4,224 53.2% 12.3%
At or above the poverty level 18,455 79.6% 3.5%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 3,111 43.0% 15.8%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 20,803 73.6% 4.3%
Less than high school graduate 3,338 69.9% 5.5%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 6,336 71.2% 5.1%
Some college or associate's degree 6,665 73.2% 4.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher 4,464 80.3% 2.3%

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

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.