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May 2026 highlights
Updated June 2026
Compared to April 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.2% to 5.0% (3,037 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 600 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 53,200 jobs).
Skagit County's labor market highlights
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Skagit County, located in northwest Washington, is situated between Whatcom County to the north and Snohomish County to the south. The Salish Sea lies to the west and the Cascade Mountains rise to the east. The Skagit River runs through the largest population centers of the county. Although most of the county is continental, it includes several islands in the Salish Sea.
- Skagit County ranges in elevation from sea level to a high point of 9,114 feet at the non-volcanic peak, Mount Buckner.
- Glacier Peak, located in neighboring Snohomish County, is noted by the U.S. Geologic Survey as one of the most active and explosive of Washington's volcanoes.
- Glacier Peak shaped the geography of the Skagit River valley through tremendous mud and debris flows (lahars) which, at times, traveled more than 100 miles to reach the Salish Sea.
Contact Skagit County's labor economist
Toby Paterson, North sound region
- Email Toby: toby.paterson@esd.wa.gov
- Call Toby: 360-742-2491
Skagit County is part of the Northwest Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Skagit County is synonymous with the Mount Vernon-Anacortes Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Employment updates for May 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The May 2026 unemployment rate was 5.0% in Skagit County, 4.8% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Measure | May 2026 | Apr. 2026 | May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 60,762 | 60,055 | 59,147 |
| Employed persons | 57,725 | 56,928 | 56,534 |
| Persons seeking work | 3,037 | 3,127 | 2,613 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.2% | 4.4% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Skagit County's unemployment rate, January 2024 - May 2026
The unemployment rate changes throughout the year, rising and falling based on the size of the labor force and the number of unemployed people.
| Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5.8% | 6.1% | 5.3% | 4.5% | 4.8% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 5.0% |
|
5.2% | 5.7% | 4.8% | 4.2% | 4.4% | 3.8% | 4.5% | 4.7% | 4.0% | 5.1% | 5.6% | |
|
5.5% | 5.6% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.0% |
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, Skagit County had 53,200 jobs.
Compared with April 2026, May employment increased by 600 jobs.
- 100 more mining, logging and construction jobs.
- 100 more manufacturing jobs.
- 100 more retail trade jobs.
- 100 more government jobs.
Compared with May 2025, this May’s employment was down by 700 (1.3%) jobs.
- 200 (4.2%) fewer mining, logging and construction jobs.
- 200 (3.1%) more manufacturing jobs.
- 200 (2.9%) fewer retail trade jobs.
- 100 (0.8%) more government jobs.
Employment estimates for Skagit 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 | 53,200 | 52,600 | 53,900 | 600 | -700 | -1.3% |
| - Private | 40,000 | 39,500 | 40,800 | 500 | -800 | -2.0% |
| - Government | 13,200 | 13,100 | 13,100 | 100 | 100 | 0.8% |
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 | 11,300 | 11,100 | 11,300 | 200 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 4,600 | 4,500 | 4,800 | 100 | -200 | -4.2% |
| - Manufacturing | 6,700 | 6,600 | 6,500 | 100 | 200 | 3.1% |
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 | 41,900 | 41,500 | 42,600 | 400 | -700 | -1.6% |
| - Trade, transportation, and utilities | 9,600 | 9,600 | 10,000 | 0 | -400 | -4.0% |
| - Retail trade | 6,600 | 6,500 | 6,800 | 100 | -200 | -2.9% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 5,200 | 5,000 | 5,400 | 200 | -200 | -3.7% |
| - Government | 13,200 | 13,100 | 13,100 | 100 | 100 | 0.8% |
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 54,022 total covered employees.
- Government - 12,486 jobs.
- Retail trade - 6,698 jobs.
- Manufacturing - 6,309 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 5,417 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 4,384 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $65,456 for covered employees.
- Utilities - $133,899.
- Management of companies and enterprises - $101,618.
- Information - $93,873.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - $88,382.
- Construction - $88,180.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics in Skagit County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 107,446 | 58.4% | 4.9% |
| 16 to 19 years | 6,169 | 45.2% | 13.3% |
| 20 to 24 years | 6,646 | 81.9% | 11.6% |
| 25 to 29 years | 7,981 | 84.3% | 4.1% |
| 30 to 34 years | 8,426 | 83.0% | 3.2% |
| 35 to 44 years | 16,668 | 82.2% | 4.7% |
| 45 to 54 years | 14,657 | 83.1% | 2.8% |
| 55 to 59 years | 8,026 | 72.2% | 3.2% |
| 60 to 64 years | 9,182 | 50.2% | 4.4% |
| 65 to 74 years | 17,581 | 22.2% | 4.5% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 83,453 | 55.0% | 4.5% |
| Black or African American alone | 902 | 72.5% | 9.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 1,484 | 70.8% | 6.8% |
| Asian alone | 2,459 | 65.1% | 2.7% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 272 | 81.6% | 14.9% |
| Some other race alone | 9,938 | 74.7% | 4.9% |
| Two or more races | 8,938 | 66.1% | 7.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 17,147 | 74.1% | 7.9% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 80,094 | 54.2% | 3.9% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 71,586 | 77.4% | 4.5% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 36,052 | 82.9% | 4.8% |
| Female | 35,534 | 71.9% | 4.1% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 12,287 | 72.2% | 3.3% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 3,077 | 63.3% | 6.9% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 2,083 | 65.2% | 1.2% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 7,127 | 78.2% | 2.6% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 8,132 | 45.8% | 23.2% |
| At or above the poverty level | 63,068 | 81.9% | 3.1% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 8,901 | 46.3% | 13.6% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 64,940 | 77.0% | 3.7% |
| Less than high school graduate | 6,187 | 69.5% | 5.9% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 17,377 | 75.6% | 3.5% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 23,062 | 74.5% | 4.9% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18,314 | 83.9% | 1.9% |
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.