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May 2026 highlights
Updated June 2026
Compared to April 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 4.8% to 4.5% (266 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 40 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 2,170 jobs).
Skamania County's labor market highlights
- Tourism and recreation continue to define the county’s identity, with hospitality and visitor‑driven services remaining central even as the economy diversifies beyond its timber past.
- High‑wage professional and information sectors stand out, offering some of the strongest earnings in the region and signaling a growing niche for specialized remote or knowledge‑based work.
- Government and hospitality remain the backbone of local employment, together supporting well over half of all covered jobs and reflecting the county’s service‑oriented structure.
- Major infrastructure projects, like the Goldendale Energy Storage Project and Cascades Business Park, are shaping long‑term growth, improving connectivity and supporting future job creation.
- Workforce participation is strongest among younger adults, with high engagement among workers aged 30-34 and those with higher education, highlighting a relatively active and skilled labor base.
Contact Skamania County's labor economist
Ajsa Suljic, South central / Southeast region
- Email Ajsa: ajsa.suljic@esd.wa.gov
- Call Ajsa: 509-734-5928
Skamania 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 May 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The May 2026 unemployment rate was 4.5% in Skamania County, 4.8% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Measure | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 5,854 | 5,821 | 5,891 |
| Employed persons | 5,588 | 5,541 | 5,626 |
| Persons seeking work | 266 | 280 | 265 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.8% | 4.5% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Skamania County unemployment rate, January 2024 - May 2026
Skamania County's unemployment rate is shaped by a small, tourism and forest product base economy, with employment peaking during recreation seasons and softening in the off-season.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5.3% | 5.7% | 5.2% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 4.5% | 4.9% |
|
5.5% | 6.0% | 4.9% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 4.5% | 3.8% | 4.9% | 5.5% | |
|
5.4% | 5.6% | 5.5% | 4.8% | 4.5% |
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 May 2026, Skamania County had 2,170 jobs.
Compared with April 2026, May employment decreased by 40 jobs.
- 420 goods-producing jobs, which is unchanged.
- 30 fewer service-providing jobs.
- 30 fewer private jobs.
- 590 government jobs, which is unchanged.
- Leisure and hospitality had 20 fewer jobs.
Compared with May 2025, this May’s employment was down by 110 (4.8%) jobs.
- 20 (4.5%) fewer goods-producing jobs.
- 80 (4.3%) fewer service-providing jobs.
- 70 (4.2%) fewer private jobs.
- 40 (6.3%) fewer government jobs.
- Leisure and hospitality had 50 (7.7%) fewer jobs, manufacturing had 10 (2.9%) fewer jobs and mining and logging had 10 (50.0%) fewer jobs. Other industries remained unchanged.
Employment estimates for Skamania 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 | 2,170 | 2,210 | 2,280 | -40 | -110 | -4.8% |
| - Private | 1,580 | 1,610 | 1,650 | -30 | -70 | -4.2% |
| - Government | 590 | 590 | 630 | 0 | -40 | -6.3% |
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 | 420 | 420 | 440 | 0 | -20 | -4.5% |
| - Mining and logging | 10 | 10 | 20 | 0 | -10 | -50.0% |
| - Construction | 70 | 70 | 60 | 0 | 10 | 16.7% |
| - Manufacturing | 340 | 340 | 350 | 0 | -10 | -2.9% |
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 | 1,760 | 1,790 | 1,840 | -30 | -80 | -4.3% |
| - Wholesale trade | 50 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Retail trade | 170 | 170 | 170 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 40 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Information | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Financial activities | 40 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 100 | 100 | 90 | 0 | 10 | 11.1% |
| - Private education and health services | 100 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 600 | 630 | 650 | -30 | -50 | -7.7% |
| - Other services | 60 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Government | 590 | 590 | 630 | 0 | -40 | -6.3% |
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 2,197 total covered employees.
- Government - 629 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 563 jobs.
- Manufacturing - 314 jobs.
- Retail trade - 176 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 94 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $55,267 for covered employees.
- Information - $176,991.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - $159,147.
- Wholesale trade - $119,040.
- Finance and insurance - $91,891.
- Construction - $79,465.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics in Skamania County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 10,649 | 57.0% | 5.2% |
| 16 to 19 years | 585 | 51.6% | 10.6% |
| 20 to 24 years | 490 | 83.9% | 22.1% |
| 25 to 29 years | 517 | 83.0% | 6.3% |
| 30 to 34 years | 691 | 89.4% | 0.0% |
| 35 to 44 years | 1,467 | 81.9% | 4.6% |
| 45 to 54 years | 1,803 | 86.6% | 2.4% |
| 55 to 59 years | 946 | 63.7% | 11.3% |
| 60 to 64 years | 1,126 | 44.1% | 0.0% |
| 65 to 74 years | 1,893 | 21.7% | 1.2% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 9,266 | 55.1% | 4.8% |
| Black or African American alone | 98 | 92.9% | 0.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 99 | 46.5% | 0.0% |
| Asian alone | 147 | 78.9% | 8.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 11 | 72.7% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 280 | 79.3% | 0.0% |
| Two or more races | 748 | 65.4% | 12.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 621 | 76.0% | 5.3% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 8,929 | 54.5% | 4.9% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 7,040 | 75.6% | 5.2% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 3,547 | 81.0% | 7.0% |
| Female | 3,493 | 70.1% | 3.1% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 871 | 69.9% | 3.9% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 142 | 71.1% | 0.0% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 164 | 59.8% | 8.2% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 565 | 72.6% | 3.9% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 618 | 45.0% | 19.4% |
| At or above the poverty level | 6,381 | 79.0% | 4.4% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 740 | 42.6% | 1.0% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 6,550 | 74.9% | 3.8% |
| Less than high school graduate | 463 | 46.0% | 8.5% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 1,562 | 77.7% | 4.4% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 2,474 | 71.7% | 3.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2,051 | 83.3% | 3.6% |
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.