- Posted February 2025
Summary
Nonfarm employment increased by 800 from November 2024 to December 2024. Retail trade added 500 paychecks. Leisure and hospitality added 200. Financial activities added 200. Aerospace lost 100.
Nonfarm employment increased by 3,800 from December 2023 to December 2024. Aerospace added 2,000. Leisure and hospitality added 900. A cautionary note: Scheduled layoffs in aerospace in winter 2025 will impact monthly and yearly data.
Nearly 4,000 Snohomish County residents found employment between November 2024 and December 2024. The preliminary unemployment rate was 3.2% in Snohomish County in December 2024 — down from the revised November 2024 rate of 4%. The unemployment rate was 3.6% in December 2023.
Location
Snohomish County is situated between northern Puget Sound to the west and the crest line of the North Cascade Range to the east. It shares its northern border with rural Skagit County and its south border with King County. Snohomish County is separated from Camano Island (part of Island County) by Davis Slough. The highest point in Snohomish County is Granite Peak (10,541 feet).
The county ranks 13th statewide in terms of total land area (2,087.3 square miles). The geographic distribution of population, economic activity and land use in Snohomish County is diverse, with a mix of rural and urban zones. Population centers are oriented south near the border with King County and west along Interstate 5. By contrast, north and east Snohomish County is characterized by smaller towns and cities, farmland and reservations.
Snohomish County is part of the three-county Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA and part of the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett Metropolitan Division. Snohomish County is the only county in the Snohomish Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.
Employment situation for December 2024
Labor force and unemployment
-
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.2% in December 2024, down from 4.0% in November and down from 3.6% 12 months ago.
-
The labor force expanded by 9,187 participants over the year.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment
-
Total nonfarm employment increased by 800 from November 2024 to December 2024.
-
The largest one-month increases were observed in retail trade, construction, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality. One-month losses were observed in government.
-
Total nonfarm employment expanded by 3,800 jobs from December 2023 to December 2024.
-
The largest 12-month gains were attributable to hiring in manufacturing, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.
-
Construction and transportation, warehousing and utilities showed the most losses.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Snohomish County
| NAICS Industry Title | Dec 2024 (Preliminary) | Nov 2024 (Revised) | Dec 2023 (Revised) | Nov 2024 to Dec 2024 change | Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 change | Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Nonfarm | 301,500 | 300,700 | 297,700 | 800 | 3,800 | 1.3% |
| Total Private | 260,500 | 259,000 | 256,600 | 1,500 | 3,900 | 1.5% |
| Goods Producing | 82,200 | 81,800 | 81,000 | 400 | 1,200 | 1.5% |
| ---Mining, Logging, and Construction | 24,500 | 24,200 | 25,300 | 300 | -800 | -3.2% |
| ---Manufacturing | 57,700 | 57,600 | 55,700 | 100 | 2,000 | 3.6% |
| Service Providing | 219,300 | 218,900 | 216,700 | 400 | 2,600 | 1.2% |
| ---Wholesale Trade | 9,800 | 9,800 | 9,300 | 0 | 500 | 5.4% |
| ---Retail Trade | 33,900 | 33,400 | 33,900 | 500 | 0 | 0.0% |
| ---Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 6,700 | 6,600 | 7,000 | 100 | -300 | -4.3% |
| ---Information | 3,900 | 3,900 | 3,600 | 0 | 300 | 8.3% |
| ---Financial Activities | 12800 | 12600 | 12900 | 200 | -100 | -0.8% |
| ---Professional and Business Services | 32,800 | 32,800 | 31,900 | 0 | 900 | 2.8% |
| ---Educational and Health Services | 39,900 | 39,800 | 39,200 | 100 | 700 | 1.8% |
| ---Leisure and Hospitality | 28,400 | 28,200 | 27,500 | 200 | 900 | 3.3% |
| ---Other Services | 10,100 | 10,100 | 10,300 | 0 | -200 | -1.9% |
| ---Government | 41,000 | 41,700 | 41,100 | -700 | -100 | -0.2% |
Note: Data benchmarked through June 2024, updated Jan. 16, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Industry employment (covered employment)
Employment by industry, Snohomish County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Snohomish County was 292,630 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 Snohomish County was $78,847 in 2023.
Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
-
Manufacturing (53,867)
-
Government (39,957)
-
Health care and social assistance (35,347)
-
Retail trade (34,582)
-
Construction (25,369)
Top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
-
Professional, scientific, and technical services ($163,426)
-
Information ($122,763)
-
Manufacturing ($115,679)
-
Utilities ($107,011)
-
Finance and insurance ($105,848)
Workforce demographics in Snohomish County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 669,196 | 67.2% | 4.4% |
| 16 to 19 years | 37,608 | 37.6% | 13.1% |
| 20 to 24 years | 44,633 | 80.6% | 7.6% |
| 25 to 29 years | 55,936 | 84.9% | 4.7% |
| 30 to 34 years | 67,309 | 82.3% | 3.8% |
| 35 to 44 years | 128,069 | 83.3% | 4.0% |
| 45 to 54 years | 107,466 | 83.9% | 3.2% |
| 55 to 59 years | 52,610 | 78.4% | 3.2% |
| 60 to 64 years | 55,407 | 62.7% | 3.5% |
| 65 to 74 years | 75,971 | 28.1% | 3.7% |
| 75 years and over | 44,187 | 6.2% | 6.3% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 461,464 | 65.7% | 4.1% |
| Black or African American alone | 23,755 | 75.6% | 5.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 6,620 | 58.6% | 5.7% |
| Asian alone | 86,772 | 70.5% | 4.4% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 3,571 | 61.2% | 3.9% |
| Some other race alone | 29,319 | 71.9% | 3.4% |
| Two or more races | 57,695 | 70.0% | 6.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 66,794 | 72.3% | 3.8% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 446,503 | 65.4% | 4.2% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 511,430 | 80.5% | 4.1% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 261,812 | 86.8% | 3.8% |
| Female | 249,618 | 73.8% | 4.4% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 91,780 | 69.8% | 4.1% |
| With own children under 6 only | 22,908 | 67.3% | 3.8% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 17,677 | 56.2% | 5.0% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 51,195 | 75.6% | 4.0% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 36,198 | 42.0% | 23.1% |
| At or above the poverty level | 470,791 | 84.0% | 3.3% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 50,188 | 54.8% | 8.3% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 466,797 | 80.5% | 3.7% |
| Less than high school graduate | 32,222 | 66.2% | 3.8% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 103,156 | 75.1% | 5.2% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 153,429 | 79.9% | 3.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 177,990 | 86.6% | 3.0% |
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.