Pend Oreille County profile

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

- Posted May 2025
 

April 2025 Highlights

In April, the not seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate decreased from 6.4% to 5.5%. Total nonfarm employment increased by 100 jobs in Pend Oreille County over the year.

Pend Oreille County profile

Pend Oreille County is in the northeast corner of Washington state. Pend Oreille’s total population was estimated at 14,332 as of 2024. An estimated 27.4% of the county’s population is age 65 years and over.

Federal, state, and local government jobs account for most jobs in the county. Pend Oreille County is rich with natural resources, such as rivers and forest land, and much of the economy is linked to managing those resources. Around 327 employers demand labor in Pend Oreille County. Around 5,042 workers make up the labor force, with an average unemployment rate of 6.1% in 2024. 

Pend Oreille County geographic overview

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

 

Pend Oreille County is known for its stunning natural landscapes and outdoor recreational opportunities. The city of Newport serves as both the county seat and the largest city in Pend Oreille County.

The county spans 1,425 square miles, including 24 square miles of water. Its terrain features forests, mountains, and several lakes and rivers, offering abundant recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, and camping.

Pend Oreille County was created out of Stevens County in 1911 and is named after the Pend d'Oreilles Native American tribe.

Washington has 12 regional Workforce Development Areas. Pend Oreille County is part of Area 10, the Eastern Washington Partnership. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the workforce regions.

Pend Oreille employment situation for April 2025

Monthly labor force and unemployment

  • In April 2025, Pend Orielle County had an estimated 4,898 workers in the labor force, down 99 workers from the same month last year. 4,631 workers were employed, and 267 workers were unemployed and actively looking for work in the month.

  • The unemployment rate in the county was 5.5% in April 2025, which decreased from 6.4% in March 2025 and 5.8% in April 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

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

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

Monthly nonfarm payroll employment in Pend Oreille

  • As of April 2025, total nonfarm employment in Pend Oreille County was 3,310 jobs. This increased by 10 jobs over the month and 100 jobs from April 2024. Private sectors, with 1,550 jobs, saw an increase of 10 jobs over the month and 50 jobs from April 2024 to April 2025.

  • Goods producing sectors, with 340 jobs, increased by 10 jobs over the month and 50 jobs from April 2024.

    • Mining, logging, and construction added 10 jobs over the month, and increased by 70 jobs from April 2024.

  • Service providing sectors, with 2,970 jobs, remained unchanged over the month and increased by 50 jobs from April 2024.

    • Professional and business services, with 220 jobs, remained unchanged over the month and decreased by 10 jobs over the year.

    • Private education and health services, with 260 jobs, remained unchanged over the month and decreased by 10 jobs over the year.

    • Leisure and hospitality, with 270 jobs, remained unchanged over the month and increased by 20 jobs over the year.

  • Government services including public educational services totaled 1,760 jobs, remained unchanged over the month and increased by 50 jobs from April 2024. Local government added 60 jobs over the year, while state government decreased by 10 jobs over the same time.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Pend Oreille County

NAICS Industry Title Apr 2025 (Prelim) Mar 2025 (Revised) Apr 2024 (Revised) Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 3,310 3,300 3,210 10 100 3.1%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 1,550 1,540 1,500 10 50 3.3%
Goods-producing 340 330 290 10 50 17.2%
- Mining and logging 110 100 50 10 60 120.0%
- Construction 170 170 160 10 60 37.5%
- Manufacturing 60 60 70 10 70 100.0%
Service-providing 2,970 2,970 2,920 0 50 1.7%
- Wholesale trade 10 10 10 0 0 0.0%
- Retail trade 220 230 230 -10 -10 -4.3%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 40 40 40 0 0 0.0%
- Information 40 40 40 0 0 0.0%
- Financial activities 90 90 90 0 0 0.0%
- Professional and business services 220 220 230 0 -10 -4.3%
- Private education and health services 260 260 270 0 -10 -3.7%
- Leisure and hospitality 270 270 250 0 20 8.0%
- Other services 50 50 50 0 0 0.0%
- Government 1,760 1,760 1,710 0 50 2.9%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024updated May 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.

Total covered employment

Employment by industry, Pend Oreille County 2023 annual average

A bar graph showing the 2023 annual average industry employment in Pend Oreille County, from highest to lowest

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

The average annual covered employment in Pend Oreille County was 3,185 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.

Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Washington state for all industries was $87,054 in 2023. The average annual wage in Pend Oreille was $58,210 during 2023.

Top sectors in terms of employment during 2023:

  • Government (1678)
  • Health care and social assistance (264)
  • Retail trade (249)
  • Accommodation and food services (232)
  • Construction (160)

Top five sectors in terms of earnings during 2023:

  • Administrative and waste services ($110,057)
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services ($107,527)
  • Other ($97,708)
  • Government ($67,972)
  • Manufacturing ($57,464)

Workforce demographics in Pend Oreille County

The labor force participation rate is highest among the 25 to 29 years age group at 86.5%, while the 65-74 age group has the lowest at 16.6%. Participation rate for labor force prime working population 20 to 64 years of age was 65.4%.

Male workers have a slightly higher participation rate (71.1%) compared to female workers (59.2%). Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher have the highest participation rate at 71.5%, while those with less than a high school diploma have the lowest at 39.3%.

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

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 11,508 47.0% 6.7%
16 to 19 years 558 45.5% 22.0%
20 to 24 years 828 62.8% 8.5%
25 to 29 years 533 86.5% 5.2%
30 to 34 years 701 70.8% 4.8%
35 to 44 years 1,309 79.8% 6.6%
45 to 54 years 1,523 71.0% 6.4%
55 to 59 years 1,230 50.1% 4.9%
60 to 64 years 1,097 45.5% 9.4%
65 to 74 years 2,417 16.6% 0.0%
75 years and over 1,312 2.7% 0.0%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 10,147 45.1% 7.0%
Black or African American alone 17 29.4% 0.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 210 43.3% 3.3%
Asian alone 46 15.2% 0.0%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 25 100.0% 0.0%
Some other race alone 195 53.3% 0.0%
Two or more races 868 69.2% 6.8%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 405 44.7% 15.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 10,079 45.3% 7.0%
Population 20 to 64 years 7,221 65.4% 6.5%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 3,712 71.1% 9.0%
Female 3,509 59.2% 3.4%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 1,039 68.2% 1.7%
With own children under 6 only 253 83.8% 1.4%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 176 63.6% 0.0%
With own children 6 to 17 only 610 63.1% 2.3%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 1,201 37.1% 19.5%
At or above the poverty level 5,970 71.6% 5.1%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 1,302 30.3% 8.4%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 6,393 65.7% 6.3%
Less than high school graduate 336 39.3% 5.3%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 2,294 65.5% 10.2%
Some college or associate's degree 2,586 66.6% 3.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher 1,177 71.5% 5.1%

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

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