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January 2026 highlights
Updated May 2026
Compared to February 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 7.7% to 6.9% (8,469 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 300 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 88,800 jobs).
Yakima County's labor market highlights
- Agriculture remains the powerhouse, supporting over 29,000 jobs, $1.16 billion in wages, and $2.3 billion in annual farm sales across 1.8 million acres.
- Health care and government form the county’s second major employment pillar, each with 18,000+ jobs, providing stability and strong wage growth.
- Earnings are rising, with the average annual wage reaching $52,105 and total payroll surpassing $6 billion in 2024.
- Manufacturing and retail remain essential, with nearly 8,000 manufacturing jobs and 11,000+ retail positions, reinforcing Yakima’s diverse employment base.
- Workforce development and diversification efforts are accelerating, from agribusiness innovation to tourism expansion, helping sustain the county’s long‑term economic momentum.
Contact Yakima County's labor economist
Ajsa Suljic, South central / Southeast region
- Email Ajsa: ajsa.suljic@esd.wa.gov
- Call Ajsa: 509-734-5928
Yakima County is part of the South Central Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Yakima County is known as the Yakima MSA.
Employment updates for March 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The March 2026 unemployment rate was 6.9% in Yakima County, 5.1% in Washington state and 4.3% in the United States.
| Measure | Mar. 2026 | Feb. 2026 | Mar. 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 122,136 | 120,772 | 121,056 |
| Employed persons | 113,667 | 111,499 | 113,173 |
| Persons seeking work | 8,469 | 9,273 | 7,883 |
| Unemployment rate | 6.9% | 7.7% | 6.5% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Yakima County unemployment rate, Jan. 2024 - Mar. 2026
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7.8% | 8.0% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 5.8% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 5.8% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 5.9% | 7.4% |
|
7.5% | 7.7% | 6.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 4.5% | 5.3% | 5.5% | 4.2% | 5.9% | 7.3% | |
|
7.8% | 7.7% | 6.9% |
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, Yakima County has 88,800 jobs.
One month ago, in Feb. 2026 there were 300 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 88,500 jobs).
- 300 more private jobs.
- 100 more goods-producing jobs. Construction had 100 fewer jobs, while manufacturing remained unchanged.
- 200 more service-providing jobs.
- 18,200 government jobs, which is unchanged.
- Retail trade, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality industries had 100 more jobs each in March.
One year ago, in Mar. 2025 there were 200 (0.2%) fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 88,600 jobs).
- 700 (1.0%) more private jobs.
- 100 (0.9%) more goods-producing jobs. Construction had 200 (5.1%) more jobs, while manufacturing had 100(1.3%) fewer jobs.
- 100 (0.1%) more service-providing jobs. Professional and business services had 500 (10.2%) more jobs and private education and health services had 400 (2.0%) more jobs in comparison to same time last year
- 500 (2.7%) fewer government jobs.
- Retail trade had 200 (1.8%) fewer jobs, and leisure and hospitality had 100 (1.2%) fewer jobs.
Employment estimates for Yakima Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
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 | 88,800 | 88,500 | 88,600 | 300 | 200 | 0.2% |
| - Private | 70,600 | 70,300 | 69,900 | 300 | 700 | 1.0% |
| - Government | 18,200 | 18,200 | 18,700 | 0 | -500 | -2.7% |
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 | 11,500 | 11,400 | 11,400 | 100 | 100 | 0.9% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 4,100 | 4,000 | 3,900 | 100 | 200 | 5.1% |
| - Manufacturing | 7,400 | 7,400 | 7,500 | 0 | -100 | -1.3% |
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 | 77,300 | 77,100 | 77,200 | 200 | 100 | 0.1% |
| - Wholesale trade | 4,300 | 4,300 | 4,300 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Retail trade | 10,800 | 10,700 | 11,000 | 100 | -200 | -1.8% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 3,900 | 3,900 | 3,900 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 5,400 | 5,300 | 4,900 | 100 | 500 | 10.2% |
| - Private education and health services | 20,800 | 20,800 | 20,400 | 0 | 400 | 2.0% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 8,200 | 8,100 | 8,300 | 100 | -100 | -1.2% |
| - Government | 18,200 | 18,200 | 18,700 | 0 | -500 | -2.7% |
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 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 116,553 total covered employees.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting - 29,212 jobs.
- Government - 18,825 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 18,432 jobs.
- Retail trade - 11,113 jobs.
- Manufacturing - 7,853 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $52,105 for covered employees.
- Mining - $131,070.
- Utilities - $121,313.
- Management of companies and enterprises - $96,320.
- Finance and insurance - $84,879.
- Wholesale trade - $74,237.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics in Yakima County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 191,229 | 62.2% | 7.3% |
| 16 to 19 years | 15,915 | 38.1% | 21.8% |
| 20 to 24 years | 17,316 | 77.7% | 13.5% |
| 25 to 29 years | 17,563 | 81.1% | 7.7% |
| 30 to 34 years | 17,376 | 79.1% | 7.7% |
| 35 to 44 years | 31,189 | 82.2% | 3.9% |
| 45 to 54 years | 27,557 | 80.4% | 5.3% |
| 55 to 59 years | 13,354 | 73.9% | 5.5% |
| 60 to 64 years | 13,692 | 56.3% | 2.3% |
| 65 to 74 years | 21,896 | 24.5% | 9.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 97,562 | 56.5% | 4.6% |
| Black or African American alone | 1,452 | 59.1% | 7.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 5,838 | 53.9% | 11.2% |
| Asian alone | 2,718 | 59.5% | 1.3% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 596 | 72.5% | 20.0% |
| Some other race alone | 37,683 | 69.1% | 10.7% |
| Two or more races | 45,380 | 70.2% | 9.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 89,453 | 70.7% | 9.5% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 85,877 | 54.6% | 4.2% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 138,047 | 77.4% | 6.4% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 69,862 | 82.0% | 5.5% |
| Female | 68,185 | 72.6% | 7.4% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 26,979 | 74.0% | 7.9% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 4,707 | 76.5% | 10.1% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 7,867 | 65.8% | 8.2% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 14,405 | 77.7% | 7.0% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 18,300 | 43.7% | 21.9% |
| At or above the poverty level | 118,687 | 83.2% | 5.2% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 17,353 | 39.3% | 10.2% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 120,731 | 77.3% | 5.4% |
| Less than high school graduate | 28,698 | 70.8% | 8.0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 38,208 | 75.5% | 5.9% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 31,464 | 78.0% | 5.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22,361 | 88.0% | 1.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 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.