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March 2026 highlights
Updated May 2026
Compared to February 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 6.0% to 5.5% (516 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 30 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 6,090 jobs).
Klickitat County's labor market highlights
- Distinct three‑region economy, with drone manufacturing and wood products in the west, agriculture and landfill operations in the east, and tourism and services centered around Goldendale in the middle.
- Growing wine industry, with countywide expansion of vineyards and wineries continues to strengthen Klickitat’s role in Washington’s wine economy.
- Softening labor market over the years because the labor force has declined year‑over‑year, nonfarm employment dipped slightly in 2025.
- Government, agriculture and manufacturing anchor employment and these three sectors make up over half of all covered jobs, with government alone accounting for nearly a quarter of the workforce.
- High‑wage opportunities concentrated in specialized sectors like professional and technical services, utilities and information offer the highest wages, while participation is strongest among young adults and workers with higher education.
Contact Klickitat County's labor economist
Ajsa Suljic, South central / Southeast region
- Email Ajsa: ajsa.suljic@esd.wa.gov
- Call Ajsa: 509-734-5928
Klickitat County is part of the South Central 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 5.5% in Klickitat County, 5.1% in Washington state and 4.3% in the United States.
| Measure | Mar. 2026 | Feb. 2026 | Mar. 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 9,356 | 9,278 | 9,168 |
| Employed persons | 8,840 | 8,724 | 8,673 |
| Persons seeking work | 516 | 554 | 495 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Klickitat County unemployment rate, Jan. 2024 to March 2026
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6.5% | 7.1% | 5.9% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.0% | 5.0% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
|
5.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 3.5% | 4.5% | 4.8% | 4.1% | 5.4% | 6.0% | |
|
5.9% | 6.0% | 5.5% |
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 March 2026, Klickitat County had 6,090 jobs.
One month ago, in Feb. 2026 there were 30 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 6,060 jobs).
- 30 more private jobs.
- 30 fewer goods-producing jobs.
- 80 more service-providing jobs. Contributors to growth include wholesale trade (10), professional and business services (70) and leisure and hospitality (20).
- 1,860 government jobs, which is unchanged.
- Private education and health services industries had 20 fewer jobs, while other industries remained unchanged.
One year ago, in Mar. 2025 there were 80 (1.3%) fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 6,010 jobs).
- 40 (1.0%) more private jobs.
- 50 (3.8%) fewer goods-producing jobs. Manufacturing had 50 (4.8%0 fewer jobs, while construction remained unchanged.
- 140 (3.0%) more service-providing jobs. Five different industries increased, while only one decreased and three remained unchanged.
- 40 (2.2%) more government jobs.
- Professional and business services had 60 (8.6%) more jobs, retail trade industry had 30 (7.0%) more jobs, wholesale trade along with transportation and warehousing and leisure and hospitality all had 10 more jobs in comparison to last year.
Employment estimates for Klickitat 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 | 6,090 | 6,060 | 6,010 | 30 | 80 | 1.3% |
| - Private | 4,230 | 4,200 | 4,190 | 30 | 40 | 1.0% |
| - Government | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,820 | 0 | 40 | 2.2% |
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 | 1,260 | 1,290 | 1,310 | -30 | -50 | -3.8% |
| - Mining and logging | 60 | 50 | 50 | 10 | 10 | 20.0% |
| - Construction | 210 | 240 | 210 | -30 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Manufacturing | 990 | 1,000 | 1,040 | -10 | -50 | -4.8% |
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 | 4,840 | 4,760 | 4,700 | 80 | 140 | 3.0% |
| - Wholesale trade | 110 | 100 | 100 | 10 | 10 | 10.0% |
| - Retail trade | 460 | 460 | 430 | 0 | 30 | 7.0% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 240 | 240 | 230 | 0 | 10 | 4.3% |
| - Information | 50 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Financial activities | 150 | 150 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 760 | 690 | 700 | 70 | 60 | 8.6% |
| - Private education and health services | 430 | 450 | 450 | -20 | -20 | -4.4% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 400 | 380 | 390 | 20 | 10 | 2.6% |
| - Other services | 390 | 380 | 390 | 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Government | 1,860 | 1,860 | 1,820 | 0 | 40 | 2.2% |
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 7,194 total covered employees.
- Government - 1,776 jobs.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting - 1,231 jobs.
- Manufacturing - 1,058 jobs.
- Retail trade - 444 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 393 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $64,978 for covered employees.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - $170,579.
- Utilities - $146,304.
- Information - $117,885.
- Manufacturing - $82,640.
- Other services, except public administration - $76,974.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW
Workforce demographics in Klickitat County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 19,692 | 52.3% | 5.2% |
| 16 to 19 years | 889 | 34.5% | 6.8% |
| 20 to 24 years | 1,089 | 79.1% | 6.0% |
| 25 to 29 years | 1,137 | 70.9% | 15.6% |
| 30 to 34 years | 1,295 | 65.3% | 4.0% |
| 35 to 44 years | 3,073 | 78.3% | 2.6% |
| 45 to 54 years | 2,841 | 70.9% | 2.7% |
| 55 to 59 years | 1,399 | 78.0% | 4.9% |
| 60 to 64 years | 2,091 | 45.5% | 9.5% |
| 65 to 74 years | 3,718 | 19.5% | 6.1% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 16,411 | 48.9% | 5.3% |
| Black or African American alone | 81 | 42.0% | 32.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 232 | 38.4% | 57.3% |
| Asian alone | 170 | 46.5% | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 65 | 36.9% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 997 | 88.0% | 0.0% |
| Two or more races | 1,736 | 67.2% | 4.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 2,310 | 79.6% | 7.7% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 15,915 | 48.3% | 4.3% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 12,925 | 69.4% | 5.3% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 6,661 | 75.4% | 4.3% |
| Female | 6,264 | 63.1% | 6.5% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 1,983 | 57.1% | 5.8% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 487 | 56.1% | 1.5% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 387 | 60.5% | 26.5% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 1,109 | 56.4% | 0.0% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 1,877 | 35.8% | 25.9% |
| At or above the poverty level | 11,026 | 75.3% | 3.6% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 2,133 | 44.2% | 9.3% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 11,836 | 68.5% | 5.2% |
| Less than high school graduate | 1,391 | 65.3% | 4.2% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 3,054 | 66.2% | 12.2% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 3,564 | 66.6% | 3.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3,827 | 73.4% | 1.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024: 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.