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March 2026 highlights
Updated May 2026
Compared to February 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.0% to 4.7% (6,887 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 300 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 132,300 jobs).
Thurston County's labor market highlights
- Thurston County is home to Washington’s state capitol of Olympia, and as such, its major employer has historically been state government.
- While this lessened slightly during the pandemic, state government still makes up about 23% of all jobs in the county.
- Other major sectors in Thurston County include health care and social assistance, retail trade, accommodation and food services and professional, scientific and technical services.
- The county has a large population of workers aged 25 to 54 years old, leading to a strong labor force participation rate.
Contact Thurston County's labor economist
Emily Robertson, Southwest coastal region
- Email Emily: emily.robertson@esd.wa.gov
- Call Emily: 360-463-7813
Thurston County is part of the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Thurston County is known as the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater MSA.
Employment updates for March 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The March 2026 unemployment rate was 4.7% in Thurston County, 5.1% in Washington state and 4.3% in the United States.
| Measure | Mar. 2026 | Feb. 2026 | Mar. 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 145,787 | 145,433 | 143,850 |
| Employed persons | 138,900 | 138,178 | 137,473 |
| Persons seeking work | 6,887 | 7,255 | 6,377 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Thurston County unemployment rate, Jan. 2024 - Mar. 2026
Thurston county's unemployment rate tends to track closely to the statewide rate. This is due to a large, relatively stable public sector.
| Sector | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5.0% | 5.5% | 4.9% | 4.0% | 4.3% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
|
4.6% | 5.2% | 4.4% | 3.9% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 5.0% | |
|
4.9% | 5.0% | 4.7% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
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, Thurston County has 132,300 jobs.
One month ago, in Feb. 2026 there were 300 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 132,000 jobs).
- 9,500 goods-producing jobs, which is unchanged.
- 300 more service-providing jobs. Job increases occurred in leisure and hospitality, while job decreases occurred in financial activities.
One year ago, in Mar. 2025 there were 300 (0.2%) more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 132,600 jobs).
- 9,500 goods-producing jobs, which is unchanged. This sector has shown little growth over the past year.
- 600 (2.9%) more private education and health services jobs.
- 500 (13.2%) more transportation, warehousing, and utilities jobs.
- 1,000 (2.2%) fewer government jobs. These losses were concentrated in state government, a major source of employment in the region.
-
Job losses also occurred in professional and business services, information, and financial activities.
Employment estimates for Thurston 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 | 132,300 | 132,000 | 132,600 | 300 | -300 | -0.2% |
| - Private | 87,500 | 87,300 | 86,800 | 200 | 700 | 0.8% |
| - Government | 44,800 | 44,700 | 45,800 | 100 | -1,000 | -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 | 9,500 | 9,500 | 9,500 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 6,500 | 6,500 | 6,500 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Manufacturing | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 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 | 122,800 | 122,500 | 123,100 | 300 | -300 | -0.2% |
| - Wholesale trade | 4,200 | 4,200 | 4,300 | 0 | -100 | -2.3% |
| - Retail trade | 12,200 | 12,200 | 12,000 | 0 | 200 | 1.7% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 4,300 | 4,300 | 3,800 | 0 | 500 | 13.2% |
| - Information | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,700 | 0 | -100 | -5.9% |
| - Financial activities | 4,100 | 4,200 | 4,200 | -100 | -100 | -2.4% |
| - Professional and business services | 14,400 | 14,400 | 14,600 | 0 | -200 | -1.4% |
| - Private education and health services | 21,500 | 21,500 | 20,900 | 0 | 600 | 2.9% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 11,000 | 10,900 | 11,000 | 100 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Other services | 4,700 | 4,700 | 4,900 | 0 | -200 | -4.1% |
| - Government | 44,800 | 44,700 | 45,800 | 100 | -1,000 | -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 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 128,824 total covered employees.
- Government - 43,623 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 16,427 jobs.
- Retail trade - 12,101 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 9,606 jobs.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - 6,878 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $72,044 for covered employees.
- Information - $129,655.
- Management of companies and enterprises - $112,603.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - $106,172.
- Finance and insurance - $105,772.
- Wholesale trade - $97,858.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics for Thurston County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 243,990 | 61.5% | 5.2% |
| 16 to 19 years | 13,300 | 38.5% | 19.6% |
| 20 to 24 years | 16,506 | 79.2% | 9.2% |
| 25 to 29 years | 20,592 | 83.2% | 4.7% |
| 30 to 34 years | 22,191 | 79.0% | 6.4% |
| 35 to 44 years | 43,407 | 82.0% | 3.6% |
| 45 to 54 years | 35,633 | 81.1% | 3.4% |
| 55 to 59 years | 16,791 | 74.8% | 6.5% |
| 60 to 64 years | 19,498 | 61.0% | 2.5% |
| 65 to 74 years | 34,019 | 21.6% | 2.5% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 182,597 | 59.6% | 4.9% |
| Black or African American alone | 7,972 | 66.7% | 5.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 2,529 | 60.4% | 7.7% |
| Asian alone | 15,741 | 64.0% | 4.5% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 2,373 | 72.2% | 11.2% |
| Some other race alone | 7,607 | 69.1% | 4.9% |
| Two or more races | 25,171 | 68.7% | 6.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 22,122 | 71.2% | 6.0% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 177,122 | 59.2% | 4.9% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 174,618 | 78.3% | 4.7% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 86,746 | 82.2% | 5.0% |
| Female | 87,872 | 74.4% | 4.4% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 29,860 | 70.9% | 2.7% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 7,271 | 68.5% | 3.5% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 5,559 | 64.4% | 3.0% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 17,030 | 74.1% | 2.3% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 16,087 | 42.9% | 20.3% |
| At or above the poverty level | 157,191 | 82.3% | 3.8% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 24,274 | 52.8% | 8.3% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 158,112 | 78.2% | 4.3% |
| Less than high school graduate | 7,928 | 60.8% | 6.4% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 34,716 | 69.9% | 6.4% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 54,342 | 77.3% | 4.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 61,126 | 85.9% | 3.1% |
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.