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May 2026 highlights
Updated June 2026
Compared to April 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 4.9% to 4.6% (1,886 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 700 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 48,400 jobs).
Chelan County's labor market highlights
- Chelan County is located in the center of Washington. Lake Chelan is a local attraction. It is more than 50 miles long and is abutted by high mountain peaks.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing make up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 7,763 jobs out of 44,962 total annual average employment in 2024.
- Chelan County is the sixth largest producer of fruits, tree nuts and berries in the state. The county generates $261 million of revenue annually from these crops.
Contact Chelan County's labor economist
Mike McBride, North central / Northeast region
- Email Mike: michael.mcbride@esd.wa.gov
- Call Make: 564-250-3924
Chelan Couty is part of the North Central Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Chelan County is part of the Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Employment updates for May 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The May 2026 unemployment rate was 4.6% in Chelan County, 4.8% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Measure | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 40,713 | 40,434 | 39,830 |
| Employed persons | 38,827 | 38,444 | 38,158 |
| Persons seeking work | 1,886 | 1,990 | 1,672 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.9% | 4.2% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Chelan County unemployment rate, January 2024 to May 2026
Chelan County has a highly seasonal unemployment rate, with significant employment in the agriculture and tourism related sectors. The lowest unemployment rates are typically observed during the summer months.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6.0% | 6.3% | 5.3% | 4.1% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
|
5.7% | 6.2% | 5.0% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 3.3% | 3.8% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 4.6% | 5.3% | |
|
5.7% | 5.8% | 5.2% | 4.9% | 4.6% |
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, Chelan County had 48,400 jobs.
Compared with April 2026, May employment increased by 700 jobs.
- 300 more government jobs.
- 300 more leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 100 more private education and health services jobs.
- 100 more mining, logging and construction jobs.
Compared with May 2025, this May’s employment was down by 600 (1.2%) jobs.
- 300 (7.9%) fewer mining, logging and construction jobs.
- 300 (4.2%) more leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 200 (2.3%) more private education and health services jobs.
- 100 (3.7%) fewer manufacturing jobs.
Employment estimates for Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
This MSA employment data shows combined data from Chelan and Douglas counties.
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 | 48,400 | 47,700 | 49,000 | 700 | -600 | -1.2% |
| - Private | 38,500 | 38,100 | 39,100 | 400 | -600 | -1.5% |
| - Government | 9,900 | 9,600 | 9,900 | 300 | 0 | 0.0% |
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 | 6,100 | 6,000 | 6,500 | 100 | -400 | -6.2% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 3,500 | 3,400 | 3,800 | 100 | -300 | -7.9% |
| - Manufacturing | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,700 | 0 | -100 | -3.7% |
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 | 42,300 | 41,700 | 42,500 | 600 | -200 | -0.5% |
| - Trade, transportation, and utilities | 9,500 | 9,600 | 9,500 | -100 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - - Retail trade | 6,200 | 6,200 | 6,200 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Private education and health services | 9,000 | 8,900 | 8,800 | 100 | 200 | 2.3% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 7,400 | 7,100 | 7,100 | 300 | 300 | 4.2% |
| - Government | 9,900 | 9,600 | 9,900 | 300 | 0 | 0.0% |
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 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 44,962 total covered employees.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting - 7,763 jobs.
- Government - 7,180 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 7,105 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 4,857 jobs.
- Retail trade - 4,328 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $57,539 for covered employees.
- Construction - $94,499.
- Finance and insurance - $88,014.
- Government - $77,405.
- Healthcare and social assistance - $77,317.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services - $75,598.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW
Workforce demographics for Chelan County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 64,155 | 59.6% | 3.7% |
| 16 to 19 years | 3,809 | 39.3% | 14.6% |
| 20 to 24 years | 4,520 | 82.1% | 9.3% |
| 25 to 29 years | 4,857 | 86.2% | 1.7% |
| 30 to 34 years | 5,088 | 84.4% | 3.7% |
| 35 to 44 years | 10,227 | 85.4% | 2.5% |
| 45 to 54 years | 8,639 | 82.4% | 3.5% |
| 55 to 59 years | 4,723 | 69.4% | 2.7% |
| 60 to 64 years | 5,523 | 54.5% | 1.3% |
| 65 to 74 years | 10,053 | 19.7% | 2.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 45,948 | 53.7% | 3.3% |
| Black or African American alone | 351 | 58.7% | 17.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 746 | 86.3% | 1.2% |
| Asian alone | 583 | 63.3% | 1.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 110 | 76.4% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 8,868 | 73.0% | 3.3% |
| Two or more races | 7,549 | 76.5% | 6.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 15,559 | 75.7% | 4.9% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 44,939 | 53.3% | 3.2% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 43,577 | 78.8% | 3.4% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 22,106 | 83.3% | 4.1% |
| Female | 21,471 | 74.1% | 2.6% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 7,690 | 75.4% | 2.7% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 1,727 | 69.8% | 1.2% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 1,628 | 68.7% | 3.8% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 4,335 | 80.1% | 2.8% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 3,209 | 36.8% | 15.1% |
| At or above the poverty level | 40,179 | 82.5% | 3.0% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 5,557 | 54.6% | 5.4% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 39,057 | 78.4% | 2.7% |
| Less than high school graduate | 5,868 | 75.9% | 5.8% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 8,479 | 75.3% | 2.2% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 12,563 | 76.4% | 2.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12,147 | 83.9% | 2.2% |
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.