- Posted February 2025
Summary
In Douglas County, total covered employment grew from 10,926 jobs in 2013 to 12,358 jobs in 2023, up by 1,432 jobs and 13.1%. Retail trade accounted for 40.0% of all covered jobs added from 2013 to 2023. The county’s labor supply is 21,471 workers with a not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.5%. The government makes up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 8,976 out of 42,564 total annual average employment. The county has 1,095 establishments employing workers covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Douglas County’s 16 and older population was 34,059 in 2023.
Geography
Douglas County, located in central Washington, is between Wenatchee, the Colville Reservation, and the banks of the Columbia River.
It 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 December 2024
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5% during December 2024, down from 6.0% during December 2023.
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The labor force increased by 489 workers, from 21,471 during December 2023 to 21,960 workers during December 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 (MSA)
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Total nonfarm employment was 49,600 jobs in December 2024, a decrease of 200 jobs from November 2024, and an increase of 900 jobs from December 2023.
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Retail trade was unchanged from December 2023 to December 2024 and up 100 jobs from November to December.
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Leisure and hospitality was unchanged from December 2023 to December 2024 and gained 100 jobs from November to December.
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Manufacturing increased by 200 jobs from December 2023 to December 2024 and had no change from November to December.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Wenatchee MSA
| 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 | 49,600 | 49,800 | 48,700 | -200 | 900 | 1.8% |
| Total Private | 40,200 | 40,100 | 39,200 | 100 | 1,000 | 2.6% |
| Goods Producing | 7,000 | 7,000 | 6,400 | 0 | 600 | 9.4% |
| ---Mining, Logging, and Construction | 4,000 | 4,000 | 3,600 | 0 | 400 | 11.1% |
| ---Manufacturing | 3,000 | 3,000 | 2,800 | 0 | 200 | 7.1% |
| Service Providing | 42,600 | 42,800 | 42,300 | -200 | 300 | 0.7% |
| ---Private Services Providing | 33,200 | 33,100 | 32,800 | 100 | 400 | 1.2% |
| ---Trade, Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 10,000 | 10,000 | 9,900 | 0 | 100 | 1.0% |
| -------Retail Trade | 6,500 | 6,400 | 6,500 | 100 | 0 | 0.0% |
| ---Education and Health Services | 8,600 | 8,600 | 8,400 | 0 | 200 | 2.4% |
| ---Leisure and Hospitality | 7100 | 7000 | 7100 | 100 | 0 | 0.0% |
| ---Government | 9,400 | 9,700 | 9,500 | -300 | -100 | -1.1% |
| -------Federal Government | 800 | 900 | 800 | -100 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------State Government | 1,000 | 1,100 | 1,100 | -100 | -100 | -9.1% |
| -------Local Government | 7,600 | 7,700 | 7,600 | -100 | 0 | 0.0% |
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, Douglas 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 Douglas County was 12,358 in 2023. The average annual wage was $49,790. 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:
- Government (2,342).
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (2,281).
- Retail trade (1,941).
- Accommodation and food services (1,041).
- Healthcare and social assistance (850).
Workforce demographics in Douglas County
Douglas County’s 16 and older population was 34,059 in 2023. The labor force participation rate was 64.4% and the average unemployment rate was 4.0 %.
Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Douglas County.
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 34,059 | 64.4% | 4.0% |
| 16 to 19 years | 2,373 | 43.9% | 8.2% |
| 20 to 24 years | 2,518 | 77.7% | 10.1% |
| 25 to 29 years | 2,679 | 81.3% | 3.9% |
| 30 to 34 years | 2,869 | 90.3% | 2.6% |
| 35 to 44 years | 5,517 | 85.5% | 3.0% |
| 45 to 54 years | 4,913 | 87.1% | 2.1% |
| 55 to 59 years | 3,064 | 73.1% | 4.3% |
| 60 to 64 years | 2,244 | 58.5% | 7.9% |
| 65 to 74 years | 4,643 | 30.3% | 1.5% |
| 75 years and over | 3,239 | 6.1% | 0.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 22,750 | 58.2% | 4.1% |
| Black or African American alone | 190 | 41.1% | 3.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 294 | 56.5% | 12.7% |
| Asian alone | 319 | 59.9% | 1.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 49 | 77.6% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 7,417 | 80.0% | 3.8% |
| Two or more races | 3,040 | 74.4% | 4.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 10,214 | 80.2% | 4.6% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 21,916 | 57.1% | 3.7% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 23,804 | 81.0% | 4.1% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 12,486 | 86.2% | 4.3% |
| Female | 11,318 | 75.2% | 3.8% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 4,866 | 78.8% | 1.6% |
| With own children under 6 only | 1,075 | 64.7% | 0.0% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 896 | 77.1% | 1.6% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 2,895 | 84.6% | 2.0% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 1,895 | 36.7% | 11.5% |
| At or above the poverty level | 21,909 | 84.8% | 3.8% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 3,409 | 53.9% | 2.1% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 21,286 | 81.4% | 3.4% |
| Less than high school graduate | 4,221 | 81.0% | 3.6% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 6,211 | 75.7% | 5.3% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 6,429 | 83.5% | 3.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4,425 | 86.4% | 0.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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