Pacific County profile

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

Posted June 2025

May 2025 highlights

In May, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 5.2% to 5.7% and total nonfarm employment decreased by 20 jobs since April.

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

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

 

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 May 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.7% in May 2025, up from 5.2% in the previous month and down from 6.1% in May 2024.

  • The total civilian labor force was 8,072 in May 2025, and was little changed from 7,986 in May 2024.

  • There were 462 unemployed persons in May 2025, 27 fewer than in May 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

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

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

Payroll employment

  • Total nonfarm employment was 6,290 in May 2025, not seasonally adjusted. This was down by 20 jobs from the previous month, and down by 20 jobs (0.3%) from May 2024.

  • In the 12 months ending May 2025, goods producing industries added 60 jobs (5.6%) and service providing industries lost 70 jobs (1.3%).

  • The largest increase over the year was in retail trade, which added 40 jobs.

  • The largest decrease over the year was in leisure and hospitality, which lost 80 jobs.   

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Pacific County

NAICS Industry Title May 2025 (Prelim) Apr 2025 (Revised) May 2024 (Revised) Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change May 2024 to May 2025 Change May 2024 to May 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 6,290 6,310 6,310 -20 -20 -0.3%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 4,400 4,400 4,440 0 -40 -0.9%
Goods-producing 1,140 1,160 1,080 -20 60 5.6%
- Mining and logging 150 160 140 -10 10 7.1%
- Construction 300 300 290 0 10 3.4%
- Manufacturing 690 700 660 -10 30 4.5%
Service-providing 5,150 5,150 5,220 0 -70 -1.3%
- Wholesale trade 20 20 20 0 0 0.0%
- Retail trade 730 730 690 0 40 5.8%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 70 70 70 0 0 0.0%
- Information 40 40 40 0 0 0.0%
- Financial activities 260 260 260 0 0 0.0%
- Professional and business services 370 370 400 0 -30 -7.5%
- Private education and health services 640 650 660 -10 -20 -3.0%
- Leisure and hospitality 940 920 1,020 20 -80 -7.8%
- Other services 180 180 190 0 -10 -5.3%
- Government 1,890 1,910 1,870 -20 20 1.1%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024, updated June 18, 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

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

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

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 20,570 47.8% 4.8%
16 to 19 years 963 43.3% 4.6%
20 to 24 years 777 85.5% 11.6%
25 to 29 years 885 93.0% 1.6%
30 to 34 years 1,030 77.7% 1.8%
35 to 44 years 2,497 84.1% 7.4%
45 to 54 years 2,569 73.4% 4.9%
55 to 59 years 1,823 68.2% 7.7%
60 to 64 years 2,191 40.8% 0.6%
65 to 74 years 5,150 16.7% 0.0%
75 years and over 2,685 5.5% 0.0%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 17,576 47.2% 5.0%
Black or African American alone 138 18.8% 11.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 334 62.3% 9.7%
Asian alone 389 58.9% 0.0%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 3 0.0% -
Some other race alone 932 60.5% 3.8%
Two or more races 1,198 42.0% 2.8%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 1,620 62.3% 3.6%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 17,032 46.8% 5.0%
Population 20 to 64 years 11,772 71.4% 5.4%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 5,892 76.1% 6.8%
Female 5,880 66.8% 3.8%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 1,798 83.5% 0.0%
With own children under 6 only 375 87.7% 0.0%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 464 62.5% 0.0%
With own children 6 to 17 only 959 92.0% 0.0%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 1,683 34.4% 11.4%
At or above the poverty level 10,025 77.9% 4.9%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 2,058 40.3% 15.9%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 10,995 70.4% 4.8%
Less than high school graduate 1,240 52.5% 5.2%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 3,340 73.0% 7.5%
Some college or associate's degree 4,317 71.6% 2.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher 2,098 74.5% 5.4%

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.