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March 2026 highlights
Updated May 2026
Compared to February 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.1% to 4.8% (5,466 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 600 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 96,600 jobs).
Whatcom County's labor market highlights
- Whatcom County is in northwest Washington. It borders British Columbia, Canada, to the north, Skagit County to the south and Okanogan County to the east.
- The Salish Sea lies to the west, and the Cascade Mountains rise to the east. Whatcom County’s elevation ranges from sea level to 10,781 feet atop active volcano Mount Baker, also known as Kulshan.
Contact Whatcom County's labor economist
Toby Paterson, North sound region
- Email Toby: toby.paterson@esd.wa.gov
- Call Toby: 360-742-2491
Whatcom County is part of the Northwest Workforce Development Area, along with Skagit, San Juan and Island counties. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Whatcom is part of the Bellingham Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Employment updates for March 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The March 2026 unemployment rate was 4.8% in Whatcom County, 5.1% in Washington state and 4.3% in the United States.
| Measure | Mar. 2026 | Feb. 2026 | Mar. 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 114,809 | 114,350 | 113,227 |
| Employed persons | 109,343 | 108,471 | 108,411 |
| Persons seeking work | 5,466 | 5,879 | 4,816 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 5.1% | 4.3% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Whatcom County's unemployment rate, Jan. 2024 - Mar. 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.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5.0% | 5.5% | 4.7% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 4.2% | 4.3% |
|
4.6% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 4.5% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 5.1% | |
|
5.0% | 5.1% | 4.8% |
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, Whatcom County had 96,600 jobs.
One month ago, in Feb. 2026 there were 600 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 96,000 jobs).
- 200 more mining, logging and construction jobs.
- 100 more retail trade jobs.
- 100 fewer financial activities jobs.
- 300 more government jobs.
One year ago, in Mar. 2025 there were 300 (0.3%) more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 96,900 jobs).
- 400 (4.6%) fewer mining, logging and construction jobs.
- 400 (2.6%) fewer trade, transportation, and utilities jobs.
- 200 (1.9%) fewer retail trade jobs.
- 400 (4.0%) fewer leisure and hospitality jobs.
Employment estimates for Whatcom 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 | 96,600 | 96,000 | 96,900 | 600 | -300 | -0.3% |
| - Private | 76,700 | 76,400 | 77,300 | 300 | -600 | -0.8% |
| - Government | 19,900 | 19,600 | 19,600 | 300 | 300 | 1.5% |
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 | 17,700 | 17,500 | 17,900 | 200 | -200 | -1.1% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 8,300 | 8,100 | 8,700 | 200 | -400 | -4.6% |
| - Manufacturing | 9,400 | 9,400 | 9,200 | 0 | 200 | 2.2% |
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 | 78,900 | 78,500 | 79,000 | 400 | -100 | -0.1% |
| - Trade, transportation, and utilities | 15,100 | 15,100 | 15,500 | 0 | -400 | -2.6% |
| - Retail trade | 10,300 | 10,200 | 10,500 | 100 | -200 | -1.9% |
| - Financial activities | 3,900 | 4,000 | 4,000 | -100 | -100 | -2.5% |
| - Professional and business services | 9,000 | 9,000 | 9,100 | 0 | -100 | -1.1% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 9,500 | 9,500 | 9,900 | 0 | -400 | -4.0% |
| - Government | 19,900 | 19,600 | 19,600 | 300 | 300 | 1.5% |
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 93,436 total covered employees.
- Government - 15,543 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 13,343 jobs.
- Retail trade - 10,643 jobs.
- Manufacturing - 8,935 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 8,347 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $65,170 for covered employees.
- Information - $115,533
- Finance and insurance - $106,163
- Professional, scientific and technical services - $93,384
- Management of companies and enterprises - $87,855
- Construction - $86,578
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics in Whatcom County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 192,897 | 63.1% | 4.8% |
| 16 to 19 years | 12,635 | 46.0% | 19.3% |
| 20 to 24 years | 22,471 | 79.2% | 8.8% |
| 25 to 29 years | 16,204 | 82.4% | 4.5% |
| 30 to 34 years | 15,832 | 81.7% | 3.0% |
| 35 to 44 years | 29,737 | 87.3% | 2.0% |
| 45 to 54 years | 25,706 | 81.1% | 3.5% |
| 55 to 59 years | 13,015 | 74.8% | 3.2% |
| 60 to 64 years | 13,729 | 61.7% | 4.0% |
| 65 to 74 years | 26,453 | 21.8% | 2.5% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 154,174 | 62.1% | 4.6% |
| Black or African American alone | 1,890 | 66.7% | 7.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 3,383 | 57.5% | 12.5% |
| Asian alone | 8,646 | 64.0% | 3.3% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 479 | 67.4% | 4.6% |
| Some other race alone | 7,772 | 75.4% | 4.3% |
| Two or more races | 16,553 | 66.9% | 5.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 17,338 | 70.3% | 4.0% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 150,551 | 61.7% | 4.6% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 136,694 | 79.8% | 4.1% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 68,425 | 84.1% | 4.3% |
| Female | 68,269 | 75.5% | 3.8% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 21,275 | 72.6% | 3.2% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 4,344 | 70.1% | 3.6% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 4,167 | 62.5% | 3.8% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 12,764 | 76.7% | 2.9% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 18,372 | 51.2% | 17.5% |
| At or above the poverty level | 117,076 | 84.7% | 2.8% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 16,504 | 56.6% | 7.0% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 114,223 | 79.9% | 3.1% |
| Less than high school graduate | 7,521 | 67.1% | 1.0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 23,254 | 73.7% | 3.5% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 38,354 | 77.0% | 3.7% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45,094 | 87.8% | 2.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024: ACS 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Whatcom County.
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.