- Posted April 2025
March 2025 Highlights
In March, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 5.8% to 5.5% over the year and total nonfarm employment increased by 1,600 jobs over the year.
Summary
Douglas county’s labor force is 20,096 workers with a not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 5.5%. Total nonfarm employment in the Wenatchee metropolitan district was 49,100 jobs in March 2025, an increase of 1,600 jobs from March 2024, and an increase of 500 jobs from February 2025. In Douglas County, total covered employment grew from 10,926 jobs in 2013 to 12,358 jobs in 2023, up by 1,432 jobs a 13.1% increase. Retail trade accounted for 40% of all covered jobs added from 2013 to 2023. The government makes up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 8,976 jobs 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 March 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The March 2025 not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5%, down from 5.8% during March 2024.
- The March 2025 labor force decreased by 647 workers from 20,096 in March 2024 to 19,449 workers.
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 49,100 jobs in March 2025, an increase of 500 jobs from February 2025, and an increase of 1,600 jobs from March 2024.
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Retail trade, at 6,300 jobs, was up 100 jobs from March 2024 and was unchanged from February 2025.
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Leisure and hospitality increased by 500 jobs from March 2024 and increased by 100 jobs from February 2025.
- Manufacturing, at 2,900 jobs, increased by 200 jobs from March 2024 to March 2025 and was unchanged from February 2025.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Wenatchee MSA
| NAICS Industry Title | Mar 2025 (Prelim) | Feb 2025 (Revised) | Mar 2024 (Revised) | Feb 2025 to Mar 2025 Change | Mar 2024 to Mar 2025 Change | Mar 2024 to Mar 2025 % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 49,100 | 48,600 | 47,500 | 500 | 1,600 | 3.4% |
| Total private (total nonfarm less government) | 39,100 | 38,800 | 38,000 | 300 | 1,100 | 2.9% |
| Goods-producing | 6,500 | 6,400 | 6,300 | 100 | 200 | 3.2% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 3,600 | 3,500 | 3,600 | 100 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Manufacturing | 2,900 | 2,900 | 2,700 | 0 | 200 | 7.4% |
| Service-providing | 42,600 | 42,200 | 41,200 | 400 | 1,400 | 3.4% |
| - Trade, transportation, and utilities | 6,300 | 6,300 | 6,200 | 0 | 100 | 1.6% |
| - - Retail trade | 8,800 | 8,800 | 8,500 | 0 | 300 | 3.5% |
| - Private education and health services | 8,800 | 8,800 | 8,500 | 0 | 300 | 3.5% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 7,000 | 6,900 | 6,500 | 100 | 500 | 7.7% |
| - Government | 10,000 | 9,800 | 9,500 | 200 | 500 | 5.3% |
Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024, updated April 17, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Detailed tables can be found on the source page in the third spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted.
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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