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May 2026 highlights
Updated June 2026
Compared to April 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.4% to 5.2% (25,540 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 2,200 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 348,700 jobs).
Pierce County's labor market highlights
- Pierce County is the second most populous county in the state based on the 2020 census. Tacoma is the county seat and largest city. Pierce County’s economy is supported by various industries, including aerospace, health care, logistics and technology. Its government sector is bolstered by Joint Base Lewis-McChord which is the sector’s largest employer. Pierce County is also home to the Port of Tacoma, the sixth busiest container port in North America and one of the 25 busiest in the world.
- The county is a regional component of the Puget Sound economy. Its proximity to King County gives Pierce County residents access to the labor market in both counties. Today, 25% to 30% of workers residing in Pierce County commute to King County for work.
- Pierce County is located at the southern basin of Puget Sound, and shares contiguous boundaries with six counties: King, Thurston, Kitsap, Mason, Lewis and Yakima. Formed out of Thurston County in 1852 by the legislature of the Oregon territory, it was named for U.S. President Franklin Pierce. The county is a mix of old and newly incorporated cities, growing unincorporated areas, large-scale federal military installations and rural areas.
Contact Pierce County's labor economist
Paul Turek, Central sound region
- Email Paul: paul.turek@esd.wa.gov
- Call Paul: 360-706-3044
Pierce County is part of the Tacoma-Pierce Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Pierce County is known as the Tacoma-Lakewood Metropolitan Division (part of the three-county Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA.)
Employment updates for May 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The May 2026 unemployment rate was 5.2% in Pierce County, 4.8% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Measure | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 494,318 | 494,130 | 492,134 |
| Employed persons | 468,778 | 467,562 | 469,992 |
| Persons seeking work | 25,540 | 26,568 | 22,142 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.4% | 4.5% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Pierce County unemployment rate, January 2024 - May 2026
Weaker hiring conditions increased the area's unemployment rate at the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026 but has since showed signs of stabilizing.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4.9% | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 4.9% | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.1% |
|
4.7% | 4.7% | 4.8% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% | |
|
6.4% | 6.1% | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
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, Pierce County had 348,700 jobs.
Compared with April 2026, May employment increased by 2,200 jobs.
- 1,900 more private jobs.
- 600 more leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 800 more mining, logging and construction jobs.
- 300 more transportation, warehousing, and utilities jobs.
Compared with May 2025, this May’s employment was up by 600 (0.2%) jobs.
- 800 (0.3%) more private jobs.
- 1,300 (3.7%) more leisure and hospitality jobs.
- 1,200 (3.3%) fewer retail trade jobs.
- 1,400 (1.9%) fewer transportation, warehousing, and utilities jobs.
Employment estimates for Pierce 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 | 348,700 | 346,500 | 348,100 | 2,200 | 600 | 0.2% |
| - Private | 287,300 | 285,400 | 286,500 | 1,900 | 800 | 0.3% |
| - Government | 61,400 | 61,100 | 61,600 | 300 | -200 | -0.3% |
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 | 41,800 | 40,700 | 41,500 | 1,100 | 300 | 0.7% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 25,800 | 25,000 | 25,400 | 800 | 400 | 1.6% |
| - Manufacturing | 16,000 | 15,700 | 16,100 | 300 | -100 | -0.6% |
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 | 306,900 | 305,800 | 306,600 | 1,100 | 300 | 0.1% |
| - Wholesale trade | 13,000 | 13,100 | 13,300 | -100 | -300 | -2.3% |
| - Retail trade | 35,100 | 35,000 | 36,300 | 100 | -1,200 | -3.3% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 71,800 | 71,500 | 73,200 | 300 | -1,400 | -1.9% |
| - Information | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,400 | 0 | 100 | 4.2% |
| - Financial activities | 13,900 | 14,000 | 14,400 | -100 | -500 | -3.5% |
| - Professional and business services | 40,000 | 39,800 | 39,600 | 200 | 400 | 1.0% |
| - Private education and health services | 67,000 | 67,200 | 66,100 | -200 | 900 | 1.4% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 36,700 | 36,100 | 35,400 | 600 | 1,300 | 3.7% |
| - Other services | 13,600 | 13,600 | 13,900 | 0 | -300 | -2.2% |
| - Government | 61,400 | 61,100 | 61,600 | 300 | -200 | -0.3% |
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 333,491 total covered employees.
- Government - 60,202 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 56,625 jobs.
- Retail trade - 36,054 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 29,575 jobs.
- Administrative and waste services - 24,342 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $70,396 for covered employees.
- Utilities - $127,860.
- Information - $116,356.
- Real estate and rental and leasing - $108,579.
- Finance and insurance - $105,055.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - $93,619.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics for Pierce County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 739,219 | 66.3% | 5.2% |
| 16 to 19 years | 43,646 | 42.6% | 17.0% |
| 20 to 24 years | 59,993 | 80.9% | 9.5% |
| 25 to 29 years | 68,749 | 85.1% | 5.2% |
| 30 to 34 years | 74,241 | 83.4% | 5.2% |
| 35 to 44 years | 135,123 | 83.6% | 4.2% |
| 45 to 54 years | 110,034 | 82.7% | 3.6% |
| 55 to 59 years | 52,987 | 76.2% | 4.6% |
| 60 to 64 years | 56,910 | 59.1% | 3.0% |
| 65 to 74 years | 84,273 | 25.2% | 3.1% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 493,747 | 64.3% | 4.6% |
| Black or African American alone | 54,800 | 70.4% | 8.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 7,838 | 67.8% | 5.4% |
| Asian alone | 54,583 | 65.8% | 3.9% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 11,620 | 68.4% | 5.6% |
| Some other race alone | 26,676 | 72.8% | 4.2% |
| Two or more races | 89,955 | 72.5% | 6.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 81,158 | 74.2% | 6.4% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 477,279 | 63.9% | 4.6% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 558,037 | 80.1% | 4.8% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 284,216 | 85.2% | 5.1% |
| Female | 273,821 | 74.8% | 4.4% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 99,506 | 73.5% | 4.5% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 23,471 | 71.6% | 6.7% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 20,558 | 62.5% | 5.9% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 55,477 | 78.4% | 3.3% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 45,010 | 43.4% | 24.2% |
| At or above the poverty level | 500,268 | 83.7% | 3.9% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 66,289 | 52.7% | 9.6% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 498,044 | 80.0% | 4.3% |
| Less than high school graduate | 36,478 | 65.3% | 7.4% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 131,246 | 75.7% | 4.9% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 176,109 | 79.7% | 4.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 154,211 | 87.3% | 3.3% |
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.