- Looking for another county? Expand this drop-down menu to select another profile.
December 2025 highlights
Updated January 2026
Compared to November 2025, the unemployment rate increased from 4.5% to 5.1% (7,375 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 400 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 131,000 jobs).
Thurston County's labor market highlights
- Thurston County is home to Washington’s state capitol of Olympia, and as such, its major employer has historically been state government.
- While this lessened slightly during the pandemic, state government still makes up about 23% of all jobs in the county.
- Other major sectors in Thurston County include health care and social assistance, retail trade, accommodation and food services and professional, scientific and technical services.
- The county has a large population of workers aged 25 to 54 years old, leading to a strong labor force participation rate.
Contact Thurston County's labor economist
Emily Robertson, Southwest coastal region
- Email Emily: emily.robertson@esd.wa.gov
- Call Emily: 360-463-7813
Thurston County is part of the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Thurston County is known as the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater MSA.
Employment updates for December 2025
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The December 2025 unemployment rate is 5.1% in Thurston County, 5.3% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Thurston County unemployment rate | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 145,091 | 145,925 | 144,613 |
| Employed persons | 137,716 | 139,291 | 137,950 |
| Persons seeking work | 7,375 | 6,634 | 6,663 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 4.5% | 4.6% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Thurston County unemployment rate, 2023 to 2025
Thurston county's unemployment rate tends to track closely to the statewide rate. This is due to a large, relatively stable public sector.
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4.4% |
5.0% |
4.4% |
3.4% |
3.2% |
2.8% |
3.8% |
4.5% |
3.9% |
4.3% |
4.2% |
4.9% |
|
5.1% |
5.5% |
5.0% |
4.1% |
4.4% |
3.9% |
4.7% |
4.8% |
3.9% |
4.2% |
4.5% |
4.6% |
|
4.7% |
5.3% |
4.2% |
3.7% |
4.2% |
3.5% |
4.4% |
4.5% |
3.8% |
4.6% |
5.1% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Key changes in payroll employment
This includes all employees with paid positions tracked in a company’s payroll system. This doesn’t include persons working outside of formal payroll such as freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals. Numbers in this section are estimates generated by a monthly survey.
In December 2025, Thurston County has 131,000 jobs.
One month ago, in November 2025, there were 400 more jobs (131,400 in total.)
Compared to that month, in December there are:
- 200 more jobs in Professional and business services. This continues a trend of slow or negative growth in this industry throughout 2025.
- 100 more jobs in Wholesale trade.
In December 2024, there were 2,100 fewer jobs (133,100 in total.)
Compared to that month, this December there are:
- 1,300 (2.9%) fewer jobs in Government. The majority of these job losses occurred in state government, though some were at the local level as well.
- 300 (9.4%) fewer jobs in Manufacturing. Employment in this industry has been flat in most months in 2025.
- 400 (2.7%) fewer jobs in Professional and business services.
- 300 (1.4%) fewer jobs in Private education and health services.
- Other noteworthy job changes occurred in Mining, logging, and construction, which added 300 jobs (4.6%). This was one of the few industries to add jobs over the year. The others were other services (200 jobs) and wholesale trade (100 jobs).
Employment estimates for Thurston County
See a snapshot of this month's data below. A detailed spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted is on the source page of our site.
Total jobs
| Industry | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 | Nov 2025 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 131,000 | 131,400 | 133,100 | -400 | -2,100 | -1.6% |
| - Private | 86,900 | 87,200 | 87,700 | -300 | -800 | -0.9% |
| - Government | 44,100 | 44,200 | 45,400 | -100 | -1,300 | -2.9% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 | Nov 2025 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 9,700 | 9,700 | 9,700 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 6,800 | 6,700 | 6,500 | 100 | 300 | 4.6% |
| - Manufacturing | 2,900 | 3,000 | 3,200 | -100 | -300 | -9.4% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 | Nov 2025 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 121,300 | 121,700 | 123,400 | -400 | -2,100 | -1.7% |
| - Wholesale trade | 4,300 | 4,200 | 4,200 | 100 | 100 | 2.4% |
| - Retail trade | 12,400 | 12,400 | 12,400 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 3,900 | 3,900 | 3,900 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Information | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,700 | 0 | -100 | -5.9% |
| - Financial activities | 4,100 | 4,100 | 4,200 | 0 | -100 | -2.4% |
| - Professional and business services | 14,400 | 14,600 | 14,800 | -200 | -400 | -2.7% |
| - Private education and health services | 20,400 | 20,400 | 20,700 | 0 | -300 | -1.4% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 11,000 | 11,000 | 11,200 | 0 | -200 | -1.8% |
| - Other services | 4,900 | 4,900 | 4,700 | 0 | 200 | 4.3% |
| - Government | 44,100 | 44,200 | 45,400 | -100 | -1,300 | -2.9% |
Note: Data benchmarked through June 2025, updated January 16, 2026. The current month’s data is preliminary. Analysts continue to refine past months as more related information becomes available. Industry columns use North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry titles. Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Employment details for industries and sectors
This profile section uses the latest Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) annual averages data.
This quarterly census data includes both agricultural and nonagricultural employment and wages for firms, organizations and individuals with employees covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Covered employment refers to the total number of employees with this type of coverage.
Top sectors by employment
2024’s annual average was 128,824 total covered employees.
- Government - 43,623 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 16,427 jobs.
- Retail trade - 12,101 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 9,606 jobs.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - 6,878 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $72,044 for covered employees.
- Information - $129,655.
- Management of companies and enterprises - $112,603.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - $106,172.
- Finance and insurance - $105,772.
- Wholesale trade - $97,858.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics for Thurston County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 241,254 | 61.9% | 5.2% |
| 16 to 19 years | 13,149 | 39.1% | 19.3% |
| 20 to 24 years | 16,675 | 81.5% | 9.6% |
| 25 to 29 years | 20,644 | 84.6% | 4.9% |
| 30 to 34 years | 21,806 | 77.7% | 6.0% |
| 35 to 44 years | 42,470 | 80.7% | 4.1% |
| 45 to 54 years | 35,420 | 81.9% | 3.2% |
| 55 to 59 years | 17,120 | 75.3% | 6.6% |
| 60 to 64 years | 19,646 | 60.7% | 2.4% |
| 65 to 74 years | 33,583 | 21.9% | 2.1% |
| 75 years and over | 20,741 | 4.3% | 4.4% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 184,683 | 60.3% | 5.0% |
| Black or African American alone | 7,816 | 67.7% | 6.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 2,635 | 63.6% | 8.9% |
| Asian alone | 14,826 | 63.6% | 4.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 2,356 | 76.1% | 18.6% |
| Some other race alone | 5,760 | 68.5% | 3.6% |
| Two or more races | 23,178 | 68.8% | 5.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 21,049 | 72.0% | 5.2% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 177,698 | 59.8% | 4.9% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 173,781 | 78.3% | 4.9% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 86,277 | 82.8% | 4.9% |
| Female | 87,504 | 73.8% | 4.9% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 30,146 | 71.8% | 3.2% |
| With own children under 6 only | 6,911 | 66.5% | 2.9% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 5,552 | 61.5% | 3.8% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 17,683 | 77.1% | 3.2% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 16,463 | 43.6% | 21.4% |
| At or above the poverty level | 156,054 | 82.4% | 3.9% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 22,370 | 51.6% | 8.7% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 157,106 | 78.0% | 4.4% |
| Less than high school graduate | 8,447 | 63.1% | 7.7% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 34,475 | 69.6% | 6.3% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 55,747 | 77.0% | 4.4% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 58,437 | 85.9% | 3.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status.
Funding
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.