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September 2026 highlights
Updated October 2026
Compared to August 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.5% to 4.0% (5,118 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 100 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 89,000 jobs).
Yakima County's labor market highlights
- Yakima County’s economy is characterized by a high-performing agricultural core. Yakima County is Washington State's agricultural powerhouse; the county continues to balance massive crop production against rising public operational costs and a seasonal labor market.
- Labor force is very strong with higher unemployment rates due to region's seasonally driven economy. Workforce development and diversification efforts are accelerating, from agribusiness innovation to tourism expansion, helping sustain the county’s long‑term economic momentum.
- Agriculture remains the undisputed economic bedrock. Healthcare and social assistance and government serve as the second and third largest pillars, each delivering more than 18,000 stable jobs.
Contact Yakima County's labor economist
Ajsa Suljic, South central / Southeast region
- Email Ajsa: ajsa.suljic@esd.wa.gov
- Call Ajsa: 509-734-5928
Yakima County is part of the South Central Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Yakima County is known as the Yakima MSA.
Employment updates for September 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The September 2026 unemployment rate was 4.0% in Yakima County, 4.3% in Washington state and 4.0% in the United States.
| Measure | September 2026 | August 2026 | September 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 129,429 | 129,966 | 129,462 |
| Employed persons | 124,311 | 122,850 | 123,990 |
| Persons seeking work | 5,118 | 7,116 | 5,472 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 5.5% | 4.2% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Yakima County unemployment rate, January 2024 - September 2026
Yakima County’s unemployment rate reflects an agriculture‑dependent labor market. With employment concentrated in planting and harvest periods, unemployment in the county has predictable seasonal swings.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7.8% | 8.0% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 5.8% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 5.9% | 7.4% |
|
7.5% | 7.7% | 6.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 4.5% | 5.3% | 5.5% | 4.2% | N/A | 5.9% | 7.3% |
|
7.8% | 7.7% | 6.9% | 6.5% | 5.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% | 5.5% | 4.0% |
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 September 2026, Yakima County had 89,000 jobs.
Compared with August 2026, September employment decreased by 100 jobs.- 400 fewer private jobs.
- 100 fewer goods-producing jobs.
- 77,400 service-providing jobs, which is unchanged.
- 300 more government jobs.
- Largest decreases occurred in retail trade, and leisure and hospitality, but construction and wholesale trade decreased as well with 100 fewer jobs each.
Compared with September 2025, this September’s employment was unchanged with 89,000 total jobs.
- 200 (0.3%) fewer private jobs.
- 400 (3.3%) fewer goods-producing jobs.
- 400 (0.5%) more service-providing jobs.
- 200 (1.1%) more government jobs.
- Largest job growth was recorded in private education and health services and leisure and hospitality, while wholesale trade had the largest jobs loss, followed by construction and manufacturing.
Employment estimates for Yakima Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
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 | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Aug. 2026 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 89,000 | 89,100 | 89,000 | -100 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Private | 71,400 | 71,800 | 71,600 | -400 | -200 | -0.3% |
| - Government | 17,600 | 17,300 | 17,400 | 300 | 200 | 1.1% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry sector | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Aug. 2026 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 11,600 | 11,700 | 12,000 | -100 | -400 | -3.3% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 4,200 | 4,300 | 4,400 | -100 | -200 | -4.5% |
| - Manufacturing | 7,400 | 7,400 | 7,600 | 0 | -200 | -2.6% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry sector | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Aug. 2026 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 77,400 | 77,400 | 77,000 | 0 | 400 | 0.5% |
| - Wholesale trade | 4,100 | 4,200 | 4,400 | -100 | -300 | -6.8% |
| - Retail trade | 11,100 | 11,300 | 11,000 | -200 | 100 | 0.9% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 3,900 | 3,900 | 4,000 | 0 | -100 | -2.5% |
| - Professional and business services | 5,500 | 5,500 | 5,500 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Private education and health services | 20,800 | 20,800 | 20,500 | 0 | 300 | 1.5% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 8,600 | 8,800 | 8,400 | -200 | 200 | 2.4% |
| - Government | 17,600 | 17,300 | 17,400 | 300 | 200 | 1.1% |
Note: Data benchmarked through March 2026, updated October 14, 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
2025’s annual average was 115,422 total covered employees.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting - 28,693 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 18,807 jobs.
- Government - 18,270 jobs.
- Retail trade - 10,985 jobs.
- Manufacturing - 7,365 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2025’s annual average wage was $53,759 for covered employees.
- Mining - $131,947.
- Utilities - $122,479.
- Management of companies and enterprises - $101,293.
- Finance and insurance - $91,957.
- Wholesale trade - $75,079.
2025 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics in Yakima County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 191,229 | 62.2% | 7.3% |
| 16 to 19 years | 15,915 | 38.1% | 21.8% |
| 20 to 24 years | 17,316 | 77.7% | 13.5% |
| 25 to 29 years | 17,563 | 81.1% | 7.7% |
| 30 to 34 years | 17,376 | 79.1% | 7.7% |
| 35 to 44 years | 31,189 | 82.2% | 3.9% |
| 45 to 54 years | 27,557 | 80.4% | 5.3% |
| 55 to 59 years | 13,354 | 73.9% | 5.5% |
| 60 to 64 years | 13,692 | 56.3% | 2.3% |
| 65 to 74 years | 21,896 | 24.5% | 9.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 97,562 | 56.5% | 4.6% |
| Black or African American alone | 1,452 | 59.1% | 7.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 5,838 | 53.9% | 11.2% |
| Asian alone | 2,718 | 59.5% | 1.3% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 596 | 72.5% | 20.0% |
| Some other race alone | 37,683 | 69.1% | 10.7% |
| Two or more races | 45,380 | 70.2% | 9.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 89,453 | 70.7% | 9.5% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 85,877 | 54.6% | 4.2% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 138,047 | 77.4% | 6.4% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 69,862 | 82.0% | 5.5% |
| Female | 68,185 | 72.6% | 7.4% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 26,979 | 74.0% | 7.9% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 4,707 | 76.5% | 10.1% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 7,867 | 65.8% | 8.2% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 14,405 | 77.7% | 7.0% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 18,300 | 43.7% | 21.9% |
| At or above the poverty level | 118,687 | 83.2% | 5.2% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 17,353 | 39.3% | 10.2% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 120,731 | 77.3% | 5.4% |
| Less than high school graduate | 28,698 | 70.8% | 8.0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 38,208 | 75.5% | 5.9% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 31,464 | 78.0% | 5.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22,361 | 88.0% | 1.5% |
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.