- Posted March 2025
Summary
Chelan County’s labor supply shrank by 1,108 over the year to 39,241 workers as of January 2025, with a not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.8%, 0.3% below January 2024. Total nonfarm employment in the Wenatchee metropolitan district was 48,800 jobs in January 2025, a decrease over the month of 1,700 jobs from December 2024, and an increase of 1,500 jobs from January 2024. Agriculture, forestry and fishing make up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 8,187 jobs out of 45,448 total annual average employment. Chelan County is the sixth largest producer of fruits, tree nuts and berries in the state. The county generates $261 million of revenue annually from fruits, tree nuts and berries. There are 712 farms utilizing 55,095 acres of land. The county has 3,092 establishments employing workers covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Chelan County’s 16 and older population was 63,416 in 2023.
Geography
Chelan County is located in the center of Washington. Lake Chelan is a local attraction. It is more than 50 miles long and is abutted by high mountain peaks.
Chelan County is part of the Wenatchee, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), comprised of Chelan and Douglas counties. It is part of the SkillSource Workforce Development Area, covering north central Washington. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce areas.
Employment situation for January 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.8% in January 2025, down 0.3% from January 2024.
- The January 2025 labor force of 39,241 workers decreased by 1,108 January 2024.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment, Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area
Total nonfarm employment was 48,800 jobs in January 2025, a decrease of 1,700 jobs from December 2024, and an increase of 1,500 jobs from January 2024.
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Retail trade at 6,600 jobs increased by 400 jobs from January 2024 and decreased 200 jobs from December 2024.
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Leisure and hospitality increased 2,700 jobs from January 2024 and decreased 200 jobs from December 2024.
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Manufacturing increased by 200 jobs from January 2024 to January 2025 and had no change from December to January.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Wenatchee MSA
| NAICS Industry Title | Jan 2025 (Preliminary) | Dec 2024 (Revised) | Jan 2024 (Revised) | Dec 2024 to Jan 2025 change | Jan 2024 to Jan 2025 change | Jan 2024 to Jan 2025 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 48,800 | 50,500 | 47,300 | -1,700 | 1,500 | 3.2% |
| --Total private | 39,300 | 40,900 | 37,900 | -1,600 | 1,400 | 3.7% |
| ---Goods-producing | 5,200 | 5,900 | 6,100 | -700 | -900 | -14.8% |
| -----Mining, Logging and Construction | 2,500 | 3,200 | 3,400 | -700 | -900 | -26.5% |
| -----Manufacturing | 2,700 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| ---Service-providing | 43,600 | 44,600 | 41,200 | -1,000 | 2,400 | 5.8% |
| ---Private service-providing | 34,100 | 35,000 | 31,800 | -900 | 2,300 | 7.2% |
| -----Trade, transportation, and utilities | 9,500 | 9,900 | 9,600 | -400 | -100 | -1.0% |
| -------Retail trade | 6,600 | 6,800 | 6,200 | -200 | 400 | 6.5% |
| -----Private education and health services | 8,100 | 8,700 | 8,400 | -600 | -300 | -3.6% |
| -----Leisure and hospitality | 9,400 | 9,600 | 6,700 | -200 | 2,700 | 40.3% |
| -----Government | 9,500 | 9,600 | 9,400 | -100 | 100 | 1.1% |
| -------Federal | 800 | 800 | 800 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------State government | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------Local government | 7,600 | 7,700 | 7,500 | -100 | 100 | 1.3% |
Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024, updated March 17, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Industry employment (covered employment)
Employment by industry, Chelan County 2023 annual average
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.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in 2023 in Chelan County was 45,448. 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:
- Agriculture (8,134)
- Health services (6,908)
- Local government (5,454)
- Accommodation and food services (4,771)
- Retail trade (4,454)
Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Chelan County was $54,174 which was 62.2% of Washington state’s average annual wage of $87,091.
Top sectors in terms of wages/payroll in 2023:
- Health services ($518.0 million)
- Local government ($390.7 million)
- Agriculture ($287.0 million)
- Construction ($207.9 million)
- Retail trade ($164.3 million)
Workforce demographics for Chelan County
Chelan County’s 16 and older population was 63,416 in 2023 with an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Chelan County.
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 63,416 | 60.7% | 4.0% |
| 16 to 19 years | 3,693 | 42.5% | 11.9% |
| 20 to 24 years | 4,515 | 82.3% | 8.6% |
| 25 to 29 years | 4,772 | 88.0% | 1.7% |
| 30 to 34 years | 4,990 | 86.2% | 5.7% |
| 35 to 44 years | 10,009 | 84.9% | 2.8% |
| 45 to 54 years | 8,615 | 84.1% | 3.8% |
| 55 to 59 years | 4,923 | 73.2% | 2.2% |
| 60 to 64 years | 5,608 | 53.9% | 1.5% |
| 65 to 74 years | 9,771 | 20.2% | 3.7% |
| 75 years and over | 6,520 | 5.6% | 0.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 46,524 | 55.6% | 3.8% |
| Black or African American alone | 324 | 63.3% | 13.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 788 | 77.3% | 2.5% |
| Asian alone | 561 | 67.4% | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 62 | 59.7% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 9,076 | 74.3% | 3.5% |
| Two or more races | 6,081 | 76.5% | 5.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 14,990 | 76.6% | 4.8% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 45,216 | 55.2% | 3.6% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 43,432 | 79.6% | 3.7% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 21,984 | 84.4% | 4.3% |
| Female | 21,448 | 74.7% | 3.0% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 7,781 | 76.9% | 3.6% |
| With own children under 6 only | 1,710 | 69.9% | 1.1% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 1,657 | 73.3% | 1.8% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 4,414 | 80.9% | 5.0% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 3,491 | 39.7% | 15.6% |
| At or above the poverty level | 39,716 | 83.5% | 3.2% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 6,267 | 56.5% | 5.2% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 38,917 | 79.3% | 3.1% |
| Less than high school graduate | 6,209 | 75.7% | 6.3% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 8,682 | 76.7% | 2.4% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 12,585 | 78.1% | 2.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11,441 | 84.6% | 2.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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