Pacific County profile

March 2025 Highlights

In March, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 7.6% to 6.2% and total nonfarm employment increased by 20 jobs.

Summary

True to its name, Pacific County is known for its scenery and its coastal location. Seafood production, particularly shellfish, is a major industry. Tourism is also a major sector in seaside towns such as Long Beach. Employment peaks during the summer months in accommodation and food services, retail trade, and arts, entertainment and recreation.  

Pacific County was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with unemployment peaking at 19.5% in April 2020. Tourism was slow to recover, and employment in Pacific County still experiences high seasonality compared to the rest of the state. Total nonfarm employment was back to pre-pandemic levels as of 2022, but growth has been slow since then. 

Location

Pacific County is located in western Washington, along the Pacific Ocean. Neighboring counties are Grays Harbor to the north, Lewis to the east, and Wahkiakum to the south. Its two main geographic features are Willapa Bay, a major source of oyster production, and the mouth of the Columbia River along the county’s southern border. The Astoria-Megler Bridge connects Pacific County to nearby Clatsop County, Oregon.

Pacific County is part of the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 workforce regions.

Employment situation for March 2025

Labor force and unemployment

• The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2% in March 2025, down from 7.6% in the previous month and down from 7.1% in March 2024.

• The total civilian labor force was 7,661 in March 2025, down from 7,993 in March 2024.

• The number of unemployed persons was 474 in March 2025, 92 fewer than in March 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

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

Payroll employment

• Total nonfarm employment was 6,280 in March 2025, not seasonally adjusted. This was up by 20 jobs from the previous month and up 100 jobs (1.6%) from March 2024.

• The largest increase over the year was in government, which added 100 jobs. This was followed by retail trade (40 jobs) and mining and logging (30 jobs).

• The largest decrease over the year was in professional and business services, which lost 20 jobs.   

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Pacific County

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, Pacific County 2023 annual average

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

Average annual covered employment in Pacific County was 6,555 and the average annual wage was $47,089 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.

Pacific County is a major producer of seafood. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting is the sixth largest industry in terms of employment. Tourism is also a major industry, and both accommodation and food services and retail trade report significant employment.

Top five sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

• Government (1,814)
• Accommodation and food services (925)
• Retail trade (714)
• Manufacturing (673)
• Health care and social assistance (584)

The top five sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

• Government ($66,767)
• Finance and insurance ($64,485)
• Professional, scientific, and technical services ($58,636)
• Manufacturing ($50,875)
• Information ($47,044)

Workforce demographics for Pacific County

Pacific County’s 16 and over population is 20,570. There is a large 55 and over population, leading to a low labor force participation rate of 47.8%. Among those aged 20 to 64, men tended to have higher labor force participation (76.1% vs. 66.8%) and higher unemployment (6.8% vs. 3.8%) than women.

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

Age

Race or Hispanic origin

Sex

Females with children

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Disability status

Educational attainment

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

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