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May 2026 highlights
Updated June 2026
Compared to April 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.2% to 4.8% (5,089 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 1,400 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 129,500 jobs).
Benton County's labor market highlights
- Strong overall wage and employment growth, Benton County paid out $6.98 billion in wages with nearly 99,000 covered jobs, averaging $70,759 per worker, a solid indicator of a healthy, diversified labor market.
- High‑wage sectors are driving the county’s economy, where the professional, scientific, and technical services sector stood out with the highest average wage ($121,269), while administrative and waste services also combined high employment (10,759 jobs) with strong wages ($102,602).
- Employment is broad and diverse across industries including large sectors like health care and social assistance (15,658 jobs) and construction (8,277 jobs), while industries such as agriculture, food processing, energy production, and wine tourism highlight the county’s wide economic base, even though some of these sectors have lower average wages.
Contact Benton County's labor economist
Ajsa Suljic, South central / Southeast region
- Email Ajsa: ajsa.suljic@esd.wa.gov
- Call Ajsa: 509-734-5928
Benton County is part of the Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Benton County is part of the Kennewick-Richland Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Employment updates for May 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The May 2026 unemployment rate was 4.8% in Benton County, 4.8% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Measure | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 106,291 | 104,910 | 101,528 |
| Employed persons | 101,202 | 99,493 | 97,092 |
| Persons seeking work | 5,089 | 5,417 | 4,436 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Benton County unemployment rate, January 2024 - May 2026
Benton County’s unemployment rate is shaped by a diversified local economy. It includes federal contracting (Hanford), manufacturing and irrigated agriculture. It doesn't have the same seasonality as small farm counties. Instead, it is more responsive to regional industrial cycles and federal spending patterns.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5.8% | 6.2% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 3.9% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 5.1% |
|
5.3% | 5.8% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3.9% | 5.0% | 5.6% | |
|
5.5% | 5.6% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
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 May 2026, Benton County had 129,500 jobs.
Compared with April 2026, May employment increased by 1,400 jobs.
- 600 more goods-producing jobs.
- 800 more service-providing jobs.
- 1,200 more private jobs.
- 200 more government jobs.
- Construction (+400), manufacturing (+200), leisure and hospitality (+200), retail trade (+200), private education and heatlh services (+100), and transportation, warehousing and itilities (+100) more jobs, while other industries remained unchanged.
Compared with May 2025, this May’s employment was down by 800 (0.6%) jobs.
- 100 (0.5%) fewer goods-producing jobs.
- 700 (0.6%) fewer service-providing jobs.
- 900 (0.8%) fewer private jobs.
- 100 (0.5%) more government jobs.
- Private education and health services (+500), and retail trade (+100) had more jobs than last year, while professional and business services list 1,200 jobs; transportation, warehousing and utilities lost 300 jobs; leisure and hospitality lost 200 jobs and construction, other services, and wholesale trade all lost 100 jobs over the year.
Employment estimates for Kennewick–Richland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
This MSA employment data shows combined data from Benton and Franklin 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 | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 | Apr. 2026 to May 2026 |
May 2025 to May 2026 |
Apr. 2026 to May 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 129,500 | 128,100 | 130,300 | 1,400 | -800 | -0.6% |
| - Private | 108,800 | 107,600 | 109,700 | 1,200 | -900 | -0.8% |
| - Government | 20,700 | 20,500 | 20,600 | 200 | 100 | 0.5% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry sector | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 | Apr. 2026 to May 2026 |
May 2025 to May 2026 |
Apr. 2026 to May 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 19,900 | 19,300 | 20,000 | 600 | -100 | -0.5% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 11,500 | 11,100 | 11,600 | 400 | -100 | -0.9% |
| - Manufacturing | 8,400 | 8,200 | 8,400 | 200 | 0 | 0.0% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry sector | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 | Apr. 2026 to May 2026 |
May 2025 to May 2026 |
Apr. 2026 to May 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 109,600 | 108,800 | 110,300 | 800 | -700 | -0.6% |
| - Wholesale trade | 4,200 | 4,200 | 4,300 | 0 | -100 | -2.3% |
| - Retail trade | 13,900 | 13,700 | 13,800 | 200 | 100 | 0.7% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 4,800 | 4,700 | 5,100 | 100 | -300 | -5.9% |
| - Information | 700 | 700 | 700 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Financial activities | 4,100 | 4,100 | 4,100 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 22,700 | 22,800 | 23,900 | -100 | -1,200 | -5.0% |
| - Private education and health services | 21,900 | 21,800 | 21,400 | 100 | 500 | 2.3% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 12,400 | 12,200 | 12,600 | 200 | -200 | -1.6% |
| - Other services | 3,600 | 3,600 | 3,700 | 0 | -100 | -2.7% |
| - Government | 20,700 | 20,500 | 20,600 | 200 | 100 | 0.5% |
Note: Data benchmarked through December 2025, updated June 16, 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
2024’s annual average was 98,673 total covered employees.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 15,648 jobs.
- Government - 12,684 jobs.
- Administrative and waste services - 10,878 jobs.
- Retail trade - 10,056 jobs.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - 9,855 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $70,803 for covered employees.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services - $121,271.
- Utilities - $119,242.
- Management of companies and enterprises - $102,531.
- Administrative and waste services - $102,511.
- Finance and insurance - $91,037.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW
Workforce demographics in Benton County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 164,331 | 61.6% | 5.3% |
| 16 to 19 years | 12,129 | 38.5% | 15.2% |
| 20 to 24 years | 13,004 | 79.6% | 7.4% |
| 25 to 29 years | 13,874 | 80.5% | 5.9% |
| 30 to 34 years | 14,879 | 80.6% | 7.0% |
| 35 to 44 years | 28,932 | 82.6% | 4.8% |
| 45 to 54 years | 23,401 | 77.1% | 2.7% |
| 55 to 59 years | 11,498 | 73.7% | 3.3% |
| 60 to 64 years | 12,818 | 58.1% | 4.4% |
| 65 to 74 years | 20,761 | 21.1% | 3.6% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 119,930 | 59.5% | 4.8% |
| Black or African American alone | 2,377 | 66.0% | 10.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 1,643 | 73.1% | 4.6% |
| Asian alone | 5,360 | 63.5% | 5.2% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 401 | 64.6% | 5.9% |
| Some other race alone | 13,662 | 65.5% | 6.2% |
| Two or more races | 20,958 | 68.8% | 6.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 35,766 | 70.0% | 5.7% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 113,348 | 58.5% | 4.9% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 118,406 | 77.2% | 4.9% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 60,183 | 82.2% | 5.1% |
| Female | 58,223 | 71.9% | 4.7% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 22,575 | 69.7% | 4.9% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 4,168 | 68.2% | 8.1% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 4,993 | 56.2% | 7.1% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 13,414 | 75.3% | 3.3% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 11,801 | 44.8% | 20.4% |
| At or above the poverty level | 105,945 | 81.2% | 4.0% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 15,857 | 47.3% | 9.3% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 105,402 | 76.8% | 4.6% |
| Less than high school graduate | 11,743 | 59.2% | 10.2% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 24,889 | 72.6% | 5.4% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 33,309 | 77.3% | 5.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35,461 | 85.3% | 2.5% |
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.