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May 2026 highlights
Updated June 2026
Compared to April 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.4% to 5.0% (627 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 60 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 9,400 jobs).
Jefferson County's labor market highlights
- Jefferson County is located on the Olympic Peninsula in northwestern Washington state. It is nestled between the Admiralty Inlet and Clallam, Mason, Grays Harbor and Kitsap Counties. It faces the Pacific Ocean to the west and Hood Canal to the east.
- Named for President Thomas Jefferson, it was created in 1852 from a portion of Lewis County. The county seat is Port Townsend.
- Much of Jefferson County is publicly managed. About 60% of the county is comprised of the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest and roughly 20% percent is under state and federal jurisdiction. The Hoh Reservation and a small corner of the Quinault Reservation are also located in Jefferson County.
- The county is a mid-sized county, ranking 18th in the state in land area. Its population density, as measured by people per square mile, ranks 29th.
Contact Jefferson County's labor economist
Toby Paterson, North sound region
- Email Toby: toby.paterson@esd.wa.gov
- Call Toby: 360-742-2491
Jefferson County is part of the Olympic Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Employment updates for May 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The May 2026 unemployment rate was 5.0% in Jefferson County, 4.8% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Measure | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 12,444 | 12,303 | 12,141 |
| Employed persons | 11,817 | 11,640 | 11,584 |
| Persons seeking work | 627 | 663 | 557 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Jefferson County's unemployment rate, January 2024 to May 2026
The unemployment rate changes throughout the year, rising and falling based on the size of the labor force and the number of unemployed people.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6.2% | 6.6% | 6.0% | 4.7% | 5.0% | 4.2% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 5.3% |
|
5.8% | 6.5% | 5.4% | 4.5% | 4.6% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% | 5.6% | 6.2% | |
|
5.9% | 6.0% | 5.7% | 5.4% | 5.0% |
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 persons working 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, Jefferson County had 9,400 jobs.
Compared with April 2026, May employment increased by 60 jobs.
- 10 fewer wholesale trade jobs.
- 80 more retail trade jobs.
- 10 more transportation, warehousing, and utilities jobs.
- 10 fewer government jobs.
Compared with May 2025, this May’s employment was down by 50 (0.5%) jobs.
- 10 (1.5%) more manufacturing jobs.
- 120 (9.8%) fewer private education and health services jobs.
- 50 (4.3%) fewer leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 30 (5.5%) fewer other services jobs.
Employment estimates for Jefferson 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 | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 | Apr. 2026 to May 2026 |
May 2025 to May 2026 |
Apr. 2026 to May 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 9,400 | 9,340 | 9,450 | 60 | -50 | -0.5% |
| - Private | 6,560 | 6,490 | 6,680 | 70 | -120 | -1.8% |
| - Government | 2,840 | 2,850 | 2,770 | -10 | 70 | 2.5% |
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 | 1,370 | 1,370 | 1,380 | 0 | -10 | -0.7% |
| - Mining and logging | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Construction | 660 | 660 | 670 | 0 | -10 | -1.5% |
| - Manufacturing | 690 | 680 | 680 | 10 | 10 | 1.5% |
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 | 8,030 | 7,970 | 8,070 | 60 | -40 | -0.5% |
| - Wholesale trade | 200 | 210 | 200 | -10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Retail trade | 1,140 | 1,060 | 1,140 | 80 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 120 | 110 | 110 | 10 | 10 | 9.1% |
| - Information | 90 | 80 | 80 | 10 | 10 | 12.5% |
| - Financial activities | 330 | 330 | 300 | 0 | 30 | 10.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 600 | 600 | 540 | 0 | 60 | 11.1% |
| - Private education and health services | 1,100 | 1,110 | 1,220 | -10 | -120 | -9.8% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 1,100 | 1,110 | 1,150 | -10 | -50 | -4.3% |
| - Other services | 520 | 520 | 550 | 0 | -30 | -5.5% |
| - Government | 2,840 | 2,850 | 2,770 | -10 | 70 | 2.5% |
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 the latest Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) annual averages 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 9,107 total covered employees.
- Government - 2,619 jobs.
- Retail trade - 1,111 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 1,058 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 783 jobs.
- Construction - 689 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $58,598 for covered employees.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services - $98,130.
- Government - $80,828.
- Manufacturing - $75,699.
- Finance and insurance - $67,466.
- Wholesale trade - $63,538.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics in Jefferson County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 30,274 | 43.9% | 6.6% |
| 16 to 19 years | 779 | 39.3% | 17.0% |
| 20 to 24 years | 943 | 76.4% | 21.8% |
| 25 to 29 years | 1,091 | 78.5% | 3.4% |
| 30 to 34 years | 1,511 | 88.1% | 7.1% |
| 35 to 44 years | 3,399 | 76.1% | 5.7% |
| 45 to 54 years | 3,395 | 74.6% | 7.1% |
| 55 to 59 years | 2,529 | 63.3% | 5.7% |
| 60 to 64 years | 2,954 | 46.8% | 5.4% |
| 65 to 74 years | 8,226 | 20.5% | 3.1% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 26,232 | 43.2% | 6.4% |
| Black or African American alone | 115 | 55.7% | 0.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 300 | 57.3% | 16.3% |
| Asian alone | 434 | 39.9% | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 29 | 72.4% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 729 | 37.6% | 0.7% |
| Two or more races | 2,435 | 50.7% | 10.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 1,134 | 53.4% | 8.2% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 25,927 | 43.0% | 6.5% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 15,822 | 69.6% | 7.1% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 7,781 | 68.0% | 7.9% |
| Female | 8,041 | 71.2% | 6.3% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 2,362 | 78.0% | 6.9% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 442 | 69.7% | 5.8% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 494 | 68.6% | 0.0% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 1,426 | 83.8% | 9.1% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 2,025 | 31.1% | 15.6% |
| At or above the poverty level | 13,484 | 77.0% | 6.6% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 2,284 | 33.2% | 16.2% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 14,879 | 69.2% | 6.0% |
| Less than high school graduate | 900 | 45.0% | 4.9% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 3,434 | 69.6% | 9.8% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 4,789 | 67.7% | 7.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5,756 | 74.0% | 3.3% |
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.