San Juan County profile

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

- Posted April 2025
 

March 2025 Highlights

In March, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 5.6% to 4.2% and total nonfarm employment increased by 90.

Summary

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2% in March 2025, down from 5.6% in February 2025 and down from 4.7% in March 2024. San Juan County’s labor force had an estimated 7,588 workers. Total nonfarm employment was estimated at 5,830 jobs in March 2025. Employment increased by 90 from February to March 2025 and increased by 220 compared to March 2024.

Location

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

 

San Juan County is located in northwest Washington state. It consists of four large islands: San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw; and hundreds of small islands, reefs and rocks. About 20 islands are inhabited. San Juan County is the smallest county in Washington by total landmass.

San Juan County is located in the Salish Sea to the west of Skagit and Whatcom counties and east of lower Vancouver Island, Canada. The islands are spectacularly scenic and a popular destination for tourists and retirees. People arrive via ferry, private boat and float plane throughout the year with a pronounced uptick in the summer. Tourism-related industries and retirement communities form the base of the San Juan County economy. While the natural beauty and relative isolation of island life supports a vibrant seasonal tourism-based economy, the relative isolation presents a challenge for economic diversification.

San Juan County is part of the Northwest Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.

Employment situation for March 2025

Labor force and unemployment 

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2% in March 2025, down from 5.6% in February 2025 and down from 4.7% in March 2024.

  • The labor force decreased by 236 workers over the year to 7,588 workers.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted 

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and San Juan County from January 2014 to March 2025.

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

​Payroll employment in San Juan County

  • Total nonfarm employment increased by 90 jobs over the month, bringing the total estimated job count to 5,830 in March 2025. Over the year, nonfarm employment was up 220 or 3.9%.

  • Sectors adding the largest number of jobs over the month included retail trade (up 40), manufacturing, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality (each added 20). Employment in education and health services dipped by 20 over the month.

  • Over the year, the largest increases were observed in retail trade, leisure and hospitality (60 jobs each) and manufacturing (up 50). Government employment dipped by 30 compared to March 2024.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, San Juan 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 5,830 5,740 5,610 90 220 3.9%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 4,790 4,700 4,540 90 250 5.5%
Goods-producing 1,020 1,000 970 20 50 5.2%
- Mining and logging 10 10 10 0 0 0.0%
- Construction 800 790 750 0 0 0.0%
- Manufacturing 210 210 210 20 50 23.8%
Service-providing 4,810 4,740 4,640 70 170 3.7%
- Wholesale trade 50 50 40 0 10 25.0%
- Retail trade 790 750 730 40 60 8.2%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 200 200 200 0 0 0.0%
- Information 120 120 120 0 0 0.0%
- Financial activities 310 300 290 10 20 6.9%
- Professional and business services 690 670 650 20 40 6.2%
- Private education and health services 400 420 390 -20 10 2.6%
- Leisure and hospitality 990 970 930 20 60 6.5%
- Other services 230 220 230 10 0 0.0%
- Government 1,040 1,030 1,070 10 -30 -2.8%

Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024updated 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, San Juan County 2023 annual average

A bar graph showing the 2023 annual average industry employment in San Juan County.

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

Note: ND stands for not disclosed. ND is used to avoid disclosing data for individual employers. Industries labeled ND are grouped in the Not elsewhere classified category.

Average annual covered employment in San Juan County was 6,126 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.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Accommodation and food services (1,022)

  • Government (1,021)

  • Construction (776)

  • Retail trade (758)

  • Professional, scientific and technical services (363)

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 San Juan County was $51,918 in 2023.

The top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

  • Management of companies and enterprises ($182,830)

  • Utilities ($121,167)

  • Information ($98,439)

  • Professional, scientific and technical services ($96,918)

  • Wholesale trade ($77,006)

Workforce demographics in San Juan County

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 16,243 53.4% 3.1%
16 to 19 years 557 38.1% 3.3%
20 to 24 years 589 84.6% 3.2%
25 to 29 years 730 91.2% 4.6%
30 to 34 years 829 88.2% 0.7%
35 to 44 years 1,936 77.4% 5.2%
45 to 54 years 2,080 85.5% 4.1%
55 to 59 years 1,345 72.5% 1.9%
60 to 64 years 1,775 55.2% 2.0%
65 to 74 years 3,953 27.7% 1.0%
75 years and over 2,449 9.8% 2.1%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 14,590 51.9% 3.2%
Black or African American alone 31 77.4% 0.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 83 59.0% 0.0%
Asian alone 195 37.4% 4.1%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 45 100.0% 0.0%
Some other race alone 428 75.5% 0.9%
Two or more races 871 66.6% 2.9%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 1,002 74.9% 5.9%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 14,284 51.4% 2.8%
Population 20 to 64 years 9,284 76.7% 3.4%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 4,530 82.3% 4.0%
Female 4,754 71.5% 2.7%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 1,310 70.5% 1.6%
With own children under 6 only 337 72.7% 0.0%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 182 72.5% 9.1%
With own children 6 to 17 only 791 69.0% 0.5%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 1,082 48.3% 12.0%
At or above the poverty level 8,182 80.6% 2.7%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 792 59.7% 11.0%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 8,695 76.2% 3.4%
Less than high school graduate 538 79.9% 0.0%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 1,720 76.0% 4.5%
Some college or associate's degree 2,286 75.1% 7.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher 4,151 76.4% 1.3%

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

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