Clallam County profile

Learn about Clallam County's unique labor market information and more.

- Posted April 2025
 

Summary

Clallam County has 29,890 workers in its labor force for February 2025. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.5%. The unemployment rate was 6.4% a month ago. The February 2025 preliminary data counted 27,951 workers employed, compared to February 2024 with 30,685 employed.

Location

A dark blue map of Washington state with Clallam County highlighted in orange.

Clallam County occupies a long and narrow area in the most northwestern corner of Washington state. Encompassing part of the Olympic Peninsula, the county includes 1,738 square miles of mostly forested and mountainous land. Clallam County is full of natural wonders and many tourists and locals visit the Olympic National Park, which attracted over 2.7 million visitors in 2021.

The region's 200 miles of coastline have fostered maritime and fishing industries. Traditionally, much of the economy of the county has reflected this natural abundance with jobs in forestry, wood products and fisheries. As demand has declined for goods-producing and agricultural products in the county, the service sector, including leisure and tourism, has grown in their place.

Clallam County is part of the Olympic Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.

Employment situation for February 2025

Monthly labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.5% in February 2025, up from 5.9% in January and 6.4% in February 2024.

  • The labor force changed a little at 29,980 workers relative to 30,685 workers in February 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and Clallam County from February 2014 to February 2025.

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics 

Payroll employment in Clallam County

  • Total nonfarm employment remained unchanged from January 2025 to February 2025.
  • Employment increased in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and manufacturing from January 2025 to February 2025. Employment decreased in construction, government and trade transportation and utilities (including retail trade) over the same time.
  • From January 2024 to February 2025, total nonfarm employment expanded by 410 jobs.
  • Overall, the largest gains were posted in government, leisure and hospitality and professional business services.
  • Employment in education and health services suffered the largest loss from January 2024 to February 2025.
  • The winter months will impact nonfarm employment, as job growth in Clallam County is highly seasonal; we will see smaller gains moving forward.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Clallam County

NAICS Industry Title Feb 2025 (Prelim) Jan 2025 (Revised) Feb 2024 (Revised) Jan 2025 to Feb 2025 Change Feb 2024 to Feb 2025 Change Feb 2024 to Feb 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 24,760 24,750 24,360 10 400 1.6%
- Total private (total nonfarm less government) 16,310 16,290 16,210 20 100 0.6%
- - Goods-producing 2,710 2,680 2,670 30 40 1.5%
- - - - - Mining and logging 370 370 400 0 -30 -7.5%
- - - - - Construction 1,250 1,220 1,210 0 -30 -2.5%
- - - - Manufacturing 1,090 1,090 1,070 30 20 1.9%
- - Service-providing 22,050 22,060 21,690 -10 360 1.7%
- - - - - Wholesale trade 360 340 390 20 -30 -7.7%
- - - - - Retail trade 3,480 3,430 3,350 50 130 3.9%
- - - - - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 420 440 440 -20 -20 -4.5%
- - - - Information 150 150 160 0 -10 -6.3%
- - - - Financial activities 650 640 650 10 0 0.0%
- - - - Professional and business services 1,870 1,860 1,770 10 100 5.6%
- - - - Private education and health services 3,200 3,120 3,360 80 -160 -4.8%
- - - - Leisure and hospitality 2,670 2,740 2,580 -70 90 3.5%
- - - - Other services 820 890 850 -70 -30 -3.5%
- - Government 8,440 8,460 8,150 -20 290 3.6%

Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024updated March 17, 2025.

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)

Industry employment (covered employment) in Clallam County

Employment by industry, Clallam County 2023 annual average

A bar graph showing the 2023 annual average industry employment in Clallam County.

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)

Average annual covered employment in Clallam County was 24,603 in 2023. Covered employment refers to workers who received wages in Washington state and are eligible for state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) compensation programs.

Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Washington state for all industries was $87,054 in 2023. The average annual wage in Clallam County was $52,503 in 2023.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Government (8,029)
  • Retail trade (3,525)
  • Health care and social assistance (2,924)
  • Accommodation and food services (2,639)
  • Construction (1,287)

The top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

  • Management of companies and enterprises ($80,306)
  • Finance and insurance ($70,361)
  • Information ($69,252)
  • Professional, scientific and technical services ($67,009)
  • Government ($66,931)

Workforce demographics in Clallam County

Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Clallam County.

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 66,470 47.8% 6.0%
16 to 19 years 2,830 40.1% 18.3%
20 to 24 years 3,078 72.6% 12.7%
25 to 29 years 3,733 82.2% 8.8%
30 to 34 years 4,301 73.1% 5.4%
35 to 44 years 8,622 77.7% 5.4%
45 to 54 years 7,550 73.6% 4.1%
55 to 59 years 4,598 60.4% 6.0%
60 to 64 years 7,332 51.8% 3.2%
65 to 74 years 14,569 19.0% 3.3%
75 years and over 9,857 5.9% 2.2%

Race and Hispanic or Latino origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 56,363 46.0% 5.7%
Black or African American alone 551 49.4% 0.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 2,141 59.8% 10.5%
Asian alone 1,232 64.4% 7.4%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 33 42.4% 0.0%
Some other race alone 1,246 65.7% 5.8%
Two or more races 4,904 54.0% 6.7%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 3,477 62.8% 6.3%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 55,360 45.7% 5.6%
Population 20 to 64 years 39,214 69.6% 5.8%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 19,591 71.8% 6.3%
Female 19,623 67.4% 5.3%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 5,604 71.6% 3.7%
With own children under 6 only 1,133 55.1% 5.3%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 1,496 67.6% 4.7%
With own children 6 to 17 only 2,975 79.8% 2.9%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 5,075 37.1% 34.7%
At or above the poverty level 33,556 75.6% 3.7%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 6,819 38.9% 15.1%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 36,136 69.3% 5.2%
Less than high school graduate 3,186 54.7% 10.2%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 9,516 68.9% 4.1%
Some college or associate's degree 13,633 67.4% 7.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher 9,801 77.2% 2.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status

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.