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May 2026 highlights
Updated June 2026
Compared to April 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 4.2% to 3.7% (796 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 600 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 21,780 jobs).
Whitman County's labor market highlights
- Whitman County is located in the southeastern part of Washington and is known for its rich agricultural contributions.
- The city of Colfax serves as the county seat, while Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County.
- Whitman County is most influenced by the agriculture industry, specializing in wheat, barley, dry peas and lentils.
- It is the largest wheat producing county in the United States.
- Its largest employer is Washington State University, accounting for 30% of county employment. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, headquartered in Pullman, is a significant manufacturing presence developing critical infrastructure and energy transmission systems.
Contact Whitman County's labor economist
Mike McBride, North central / Northeast region
- Email Mike: michael.mcbride@esd.wa.gov
- Call Mike: 564-250-3924
Whitman County is part of the Eastern Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Employment updates for May 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The May 2026 unemployment rate was 3.7% in Whitman County, 4.8% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Measure | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 21,712 | 22,287 | 20,850 |
| Employed persons | 20,916 | 21,356 | 20,122 |
| Persons seeking work | 796 | 931 | 728 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% | 4.2% | 3.5% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Whitman County unemployment rate, January 2024 - May 2026
Whitman County typically has lower and stable unemployment rates, with a high concentration of jobs in the state government education sector.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3.8% | 5.0% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 5.2% | 4.0% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.6% |
|
3.8% | 4.5% | 3.5% | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 4.9% | 3.8% | 3.3% | 4.0% | 4.4% | |
|
4.1% | 4.4% | 3.5% | 4.2% | 3.7% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS). BLS canceled October 2025's unemployment publications.
Key changes in payroll employment
This includes all employees with paid positions tracked in a company’s payroll system. This doesn’t include agriculture jobs or jobs outside of formal payroll such as freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals. Numbers in this section are estimates generated by a monthly survey.
In May 2026, Whitman County had 21,780 jobs.
Compared with April 2026, May employment increased by 600 jobs.
- 460 fewer government jobs. State government accounted for all of the month over month job decline.
- 120 fewer leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 50 more financial activities jobs.
- 40 fewer mining, logging and construction jobs.
Compared with May 2025, this May’s employment was down by 730 (3.2%) jobs.
- 1,010 (8.4%) fewer government jobs. State government accounted for most of the year over year job decline.
- 260 (8.6%) more manufacturing jobs.
- 90 (6.0%) more leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 60 (3.6%) fewer private education and health services jobs.
Employment estimates for Whitman 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 sector | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 | Apr. 2026 to May 2026 |
May 2025 to May 2026 |
Apr. 2026 to May 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 21,780 | 22,380 | 22,510 | -600 | -730 | -3.2% |
| - Private | 10,750 | 10,900 | 10,480 | -150 | 270 | 2.6% |
| - Government | 11,020 | 11,480 | 12,030 | -460 | -1,010 | -8.4% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry sector | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 | Apr. 2026 to May 2026 |
May 2025 to May 2026 |
Apr. 2026 to May 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 3,750 | 3,800 | 3,470 | -50 | 280 | 8.1% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 460 | 500 | 430 | -40 | 30 | 7.0% |
| - Manufacturing | 3,300 | 3,290 | 3,040 | 10 | 260 | 8.6% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry sector | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 | Apr. 2026 to May 2026 |
May 2025 to May 2026 |
Apr. 2026 to May 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 18,030 | 18,590 | 19,030 | -560 | -1,000 | -5.3% |
| - Wholesale trade | 570 | 570 | 540 | 0 | 30 | 5.6% |
| - Retail trade | 1,200 | 1,210 | 1,180 | -10 | 20 | 1.7% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 380 | 380 | 380 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Information | 80 | 80 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Financial activities | 460 | 410 | 490 | 50 | -30 | -6.1% |
| - Professional and business services | 780 | 780 | 820 | 0 | -40 | -4.9% |
| - Private education and health services | 1,610 | 1,630 | 1,670 | -20 | -60 | -3.6% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 1,590 | 1,710 | 1,500 | -120 | 90 | 6.0% |
| - Other services | 340 | 340 | 370 | 0 | -30 | -8.1% |
| - Government | 11,020 | 11,480 | 12,030 | -460 | -1,010 | -8.4% |
Note: Data benchmarked through December 2025, updated June 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 19,127 total covered employees.
- Government - 8,063 jobs.
- Not classified elsewhere - 3,071 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 1,638 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 1,532 jobs.
- Retail trade - 1,301 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $64,503 for covered employees.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services - $92,182.
- Information - $87,727.
- Finance and insurance - $85,089.
- Wholesale trade - $73,413.
- Government - $71,968.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics in Whitman County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 40,428 | 62.4% | 7.0% |
| 16 to 19 years | 5,311 | 42.6% | 26.6% |
| 20 to 24 years | 10,545 | 63.9% | 11.3% |
| 25 to 29 years | 3,385 | 84.0% | 2.3% |
| 30 to 34 years | 3,167 | 78.9% | 0.3% |
| 35 to 44 years | 4,670 | 83.0% | 4.0% |
| 45 to 54 years | 3,792 | 79.9% | 2.0% |
| 55 to 59 years | 1,938 | 75.3% | 3.0% |
| 60 to 64 years | 2,023 | 65.8% | 1.1% |
| 65 to 74 years | 3,310 | 28.5% | 4.9% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 31,317 | 62.1% | 7.0% |
| Black or African American alone | 656 | 58.8% | 0.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 265 | 66.4% | 21.0% |
| Asian alone | 2,815 | 58.5% | 12.4% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 84 | 76.2% | 42.2% |
| Some other race alone | 1,006 | 78.8% | 1.5% |
| Two or more races | 4,285 | 63.1% | 4.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 3,168 | 73.8% | 4.3% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 30,247 | 61.6% | 6.9% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 29,520 | 73.8% | 5.0% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 15,226 | 76.9% | 4.8% |
| Female | 14,294 | 70.4% | 5.3% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 3,837 | 70.7% | 2.2% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 1,170 | 72.9% | 1.4% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 602 | 53.8% | 0.9% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 2,065 | 74.4% | 2.9% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 7,510 | 54.2% | 17.3% |
| At or above the poverty level | 19,872 | 83.4% | 1.2% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 3,796 | 58.0% | 8.5% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 18,975 | 79.3% | 2.3% |
| Less than high school graduate | 710 | 51.1% | 22.0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 2,659 | 72.7% | 2.8% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 5,720 | 75.7% | 3.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9,886 | 85.1% | 0.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024: ACS 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.