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September 2026 highlights
Updated October 2026
Compared to August 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 4.7% to 3.5% (730 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 100 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 47,900 jobs).
Douglas County's labor market highlights
- Douglas County, located in central Washington, is between Wenatchee, the Colville Reservation and the banks of the Columbia River. Part of the Grand Coulee Dam touches Douglas County.
- Agriculture makes up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 2,414 jobs out of 12,440 total employment in 2024.
- The county seat is Waterville, and its largest city is East Wenatchee.
Contact Douglas County's labor economist
Mike McBride, North central / Northeast region
- Email Mike: michael.mcbride@esd.wa.gov
- Call Mike: 564-250-3924
Douglas County is part of the North Central Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Douglas County is part of the Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Employment updates for September 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The September 2026 unemployment rate was 3.5% in Douglas County, 4.3% in Washington state and 4.0% in the United States.
| Measure | September 2026 | August 2026 | September 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 20,670 | 20,685 | 21,043 |
| Employed persons | 19,940 | 19,718 | 20,248 |
| Persons seeking work | 730 | 967 | 795 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 4.7% | 3.8% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Douglas County unemployment rate, January 2024 to September 2026
Douglas County has a highly seasonal unemployment rate, with significant employment in the agriculture and tourism related sectors. The lowest unemployment rates are typically observed during the summer months.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6.7% | 7.1% | 5.7% | 4.5% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 3.8% | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.9% |
|
6.5% | 7.1% | 5.8% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 4.7% | 3.8% | N/A | 5.6% | 6.4% |
|
6.5% | 6.8% | 6.1% | 5.8% | 5.3% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.7% | 3.5% |
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, Douglas County had 47,900 jobs.
Compared with August 2026, September employment decreased by 100 jobs.
- 200 fewer leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 100 more government jobs.
- 100 fewer retail trade jobs.
- 100 more private education and health services jobs.
Compared with September 2025, this September’s employment was down by 1,200 (2.4%) jobs.
- 400 (4.1%) fewer trade, transportation, and utilities jobs.
- 200 (2.7%) fewer leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 200 (7.1%) fewer manufacturing jobs.
- 200 (5.3%) fewer mining, logging and construction jobs.
Employment estimates for Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
This MSA employment data shows combined data from Chelan and Douglas counties.
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 | 47,900 | 48,000 | 49,100 | -100 | -1,200 | -2.4% |
| - Private | 38,700 | 38,900 | 39,800 | -200 | -1,100 | -2.8% |
| - Government | 9,200 | 9,100 | 9,300 | 100 | -100 | -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 | 6,200 | 6,200 | 6,600 | 0 | -400 | -6.1% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 3,600 | 3,600 | 3,800 | 0 | -200 | -5.3% |
| - Manufacturing | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,800 | 0 | -200 | -7.1% |
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 | 41,700 | 41,800 | 42,500 | -100 | -800 | -1.9% |
| - Trade, transportation, and utilities | 9,300 | 9,300 | 9,700 | 0 | -400 | -4.1% |
| - - Retail trade | 6,100 | 6,200 | 6,200 | -100 | -100 | -1.6% |
| - Private education and health services | 9,000 | 8,900 | 8,900 | 100 | 100 | 1.1% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 7,200 | 7,400 | 7,400 | -200 | -200 | -2.7% |
| - Government | 9,200 | 9,100 | 9,300 | 100 | -100 | -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 Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) 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 12,440 total covered employees.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting - 2,414 jobs.
- Government - 2,294 jobs.
- Retail trade - 1,886 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 1,000 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 885 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2025’s annual average wage was $54,269 for covered employees.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services - $105,801.
- Information - $83,507.
- Finance and insurance - $82,832.
- Government - $79,376.
- Wholesale trade - $70,906.
2025 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW
Workforce demographics in Douglas County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 34,847 | 63.1% | 3.9% |
| 16 to 19 years | 2,456 | 41.0% | 10.8% |
| 20 to 24 years | 2,585 | 72.5% | 10.5% |
| 25 to 29 years | 2,767 | 82.5% | 4.6% |
| 30 to 34 years | 2,935 | 91.5% | 2.7% |
| 35 to 44 years | 5,669 | 83.2% | 3.5% |
| 45 to 54 years | 4,970 | 86.6% | 0.7% |
| 55 to 59 years | 2,664 | 74.2% | 3.9% |
| 60 to 64 years | 2,621 | 59.7% | 5.1% |
| 65 to 74 years | 4,848 | 29.5% | 1.6% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 22,883 | 57.5% | 4.2% |
| Black or African American alone | 176 | 42.6% | 4.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 385 | 62.3% | 1.7% |
| Asian alone | 302 | 52.3% | 0.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 63 | 69.8% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 6,023 | 78.8% | 2.3% |
| Two or more races | 5,015 | 71.2% | 5.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 10,718 | 76.2% | 3.9% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 21,993 | 56.4% | 3.8% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 24,211 | 80.2% | 3.7% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 12,806 | 85.2% | 4.2% |
| Female | 11,405 | 74.5% | 3.2% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 4,868 | 77.6% | 0.6% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 1,106 | 67.6% | 0.0% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 814 | 70.8% | 1.4% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 2,948 | 83.2% | 0.6% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 2,064 | 38.6% | 12.2% |
| At or above the poverty level | 22,147 | 84.0% | 3.4% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 3,357 | 49.9% | 4.7% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 21,626 | 81.1% | 3.0% |
| Less than high school graduate | 4,309 | 76.1% | 1.7% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 6,118 | 76.8% | 5.0% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 6,751 | 84.5% | 3.9% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4,448 | 86.5% | 0.4% |
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.