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March 2026 highlights
Updated May 2026
Compared to February 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.4% to 5.2% (94 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 20 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 1,300 jobs).
Columbia County's labor market highlights
- Columbia County maintained steady, modest economic growth through 2024–2025, driven largely by strong health care, education and retail sectors. These industries continue to anchor local stability and employment.
- The resident workforce has fluctuated over the past decade, with strong pre‑pandemic growth, pandemic-era declines and a rebound after 2021. By 2024–2025, labor force and employment levels stabilized with slight declines.
- Health care expansion, including new facilities has fueled job creation and strengthened local business activity. Community development efforts in infrastructure and digital connectivity are poised to support additional employment.
- Overall, the county is prioritizing long-term economic vitality through workforce development, small business support and inclusive growth initiatives.
Contact Columbia County's labor economist
Ajsa Suljic, South central / Southeast region
- Email Ajsa: ajsa.suljic@esd.wa.gov
- Call Ajsa: 509-734-5928
Columbia County is part of the Eastern Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Employment updates for March 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The March 2026 unemployment rate was 5.2% in Columbia County, 5.1% in Washington state and 4.3% in the United States.
| Measure | Mar. 2026 | Feb. 2026 | Mar. 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 1,815 | 1,835 | 1,945 |
| Employed persons | 1,721 | 1,735 | 1,865 |
| Persons seeking work | 94 | 100 | 80 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.4% | 4.1% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Columbia County unemployment rate, Jan. 2024 - March 2026
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4.7% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 4.4% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.2% |
|
4.5% | 5.2% | 4.1% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 4.7% | 4.8% | |
|
5.4% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
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 March 2026, Columbia County had 1,300 jobs.
One month ago, in Feb. 2026 there were 20 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 1,320 jobs).
- 10 more private jobs.
- 170 goods-producing jobs, which is unchanged.
- 30 fewer service-providing jobs.
- 40 fewer government jobs.
- 20 more leisure and hospitality jobs.
One year ago, in Mar. 2025 there were 20 (1.5%) more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 1,320 jobs).
- 20 (3.0%) more private jobs.
- 10 (5.6%) fewer goods-producing jobs. Construction had 10 (7.1%) fewer jobs, while manufacturing remained unchanged.
- 10 (0.9%) fewer service-providing jobs. Leisure and hospitality had 20 (10.0%) more jobs, and retail trade had 10 (11.1%) more jobs.
- 30 (4.7%) fewer government jobs.
- 10 (16.7%) fewer transportation, warehousing, and utilities jobs.
Employment estimates for Columbia County
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 | Mar 2026 | Feb 2026 | Mar 2025 | Feb 2026 to Mar 2026 |
Mar 2025 to Mar 2026 |
Mar 2025 to Mar 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 1,300 | 1,320 | 1,320 | -20 | -20 | -1.5% |
| - Private | 690 | 680 | 670 | 10 | 20 | 3.0% |
| - Government | 610 | 650 | 640 | -40 | -30 | -4.7% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry sector | Mar 2026 | Feb 2026 | Mar 2025 | Feb 2026 to Mar 2026 |
Mar 2025 to Mar 2026 |
Mar 2025 to Mar 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 170 | 170 | 180 | 0 | -10 | -5.6% |
| - Mining, Logging and Construction | 130 | 130 | 140 | 0 | -10 | -7.1% |
| - Construction | 130 | 130 | 140 | 0 | -10 | -7.1% |
| - Manufacturing | 40 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry sector | Mar 2026 | Feb 2026 | Mar 2025 | Feb 2026 to Mar 2026 |
Mar 2025 to Mar 2026 |
Mar 2025 to Mar 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 1,130 | 1,160 | 1,140 | -30 | -10 | -0.9% |
| - Wholesale trade | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Retail trade | 100 | 100 | 90 | 0 | 10 | 11.1% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 50 | 50 | 60 | 0 | -10 | -16.7% |
| - Information | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Financial activities | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 30 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Private education and health services | 60 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 220 | 200 | 200 | 20 | 20 | 10.0% |
| - Other services | 30 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Government | 610 | 650 | 640 | -40 | -30 | -4.7% |
Note: Data benchmarked through September 2025, updated April 30, 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 1,503 total covered employees.
- Government - 611 jobs.
- Not classified elsewhere - 273 jobs.
- Construction - 128 jobs.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting - 127 jobs.
- Retail trade - 98 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $66,819 for covered employees.
- Construction - $108,460.
- Real estate and rental and leasing - $94,341.
- Government - $64,603.
- Healthcare and social assistance - $60,090.
- Manufacturing - $48,998.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW
Workforce demographics in Columbia County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 3,343 | 54.9% | 3.9% |
| 16 to 19 years | 65 | 20.0% | 46.2% |
| 20 to 24 years | 220 | 88.2% | 6.2% |
| 25 to 29 years | 230 | 62.6% | 0.0% |
| 30 to 34 years | 147 | 91.8% | 11.1% |
| 35 to 44 years | 528 | 87.1% | 3.0% |
| 45 to 54 years | 369 | 68.3% | 0.0% |
| 55 to 59 years | 329 | 83.3% | 0.0% |
| 60 to 64 years | 278 | 63.7% | 12.4% |
| 65 to 74 years | 670 | 19.4% | 1.5% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 2,774 | 54.3% | 3.6% |
| Black or African American alone | 22 | 27.3% | 100.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 13 | 0.0% | - |
| Asian alone | 53 | 0.0% | - |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 0 | - | - |
| Some other race alone | 142 | 69.7% | 0.0% |
| Two or more races | 339 | 65.5% | 5.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 267 | 65.9% | 0.0% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 2,741 | 54.6% | 3.6% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 2,101 | 77.9% | 3.9% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 1,004 | 80.9% | 5.0% |
| Female | 1,097 | 75.1% | 2.7% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 299 | 82.6% | 0.0% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 74 | 79.7% | 0.0% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 10 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 215 | 82.8% | 0.0% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 237 | 8.0% | 0.0% |
| At or above the poverty level | 1,859 | 87.0% | 3.9% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 278 | 48.6% | 0.0% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 1,881 | 76.7% | 3.5% |
| Less than high school graduate | 226 | 55.8% | 0.0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 432 | 69.7% | 0.0% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 760 | 80.8% | 5.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 463 | 86.6% | 5.0% |
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.