Posted March 2025
Summary
Grays Harbor County is a scenic, largely rural area, owing to its location on the Pacific Ocean. Historically its major industries were in timber and fishing. While manufacturing continues to be a major industry, including seafood production, the county’s economy has shifted toward services. Tourism has also played a major role in recent years.
Local government is the largest sector, followed by health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, retail trade, and manufacturing.
Compared to the statewide average, Grays Harbor County tends to have higher unemployment and lower average wages. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate hit a high of 19.6%. While unemployment has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, Grays Harbor consistently has one of the highest unemployment rates among Washington’s 39 counties.
Location
Grays Harbor County is located along the Pacific Ocean in western Washington. The county is bordered by Jefferson County to the north, Mason and Thurston counties to the east, and Pacific and Lewis counties to the south. The largest city is Aberdeen, and the county makes up the Aberdeen Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Grays Harbor County is part of the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 workforce regions.
Employment situation for January 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.8% in January 2025, up from 6.7% in the previous month and down from 7.5% in January 2024.
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The total civilian labor force was 29,020 in January 2025, down slightly from 29,328 in January 2024.
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The number of unemployed persons was 1,969 in January 2025, 239 fewer than in January 2024.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment
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Total nonfarm employment was 23,420 in January 2025, not seasonally adjusted. This was down by 190 jobs from the previous month and up 450 jobs (2.0%) from January 2024.
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Over the year, employment increased in six industries, decreased in one industry, and was unchanged in four industries.
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The largest year over year increase was in leisure and hospitality (170 jobs), followed by government (150 jobs) and mining, logging and construction (110 jobs).
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Year over year decreases occurred in education and health services (down 110 jobs).
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Grays Harbor County
| NAICS Industry Title | Jan 2025 (Preliminary) | Dec 2024 (Revised) | Jan 2024 (Revised) | Dec 2024 to Jan 2025 change | Jan 2024 to Jan 2025 change | Jan 2024 to Jan 2025 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Nonfarm | 23,420 | 23,610 | 22,970 | -190 | 450 | 2.0% |
| --Total Private | 16,420 | 16,580 | 16,120 | -160 | 300 | 1.9% |
| ---Goods Producing | 4,130 | 4,100 | 3,960 | 30 | 170 | 4.3% |
| -----Mining, Logging, and Construction | 1,600 | 1,610 | 1,490 | -10 | 110 | 7.4% |
| -----Manufacturing | 2,520 | 2,490 | 2,470 | 30 | 50 | 2.0% |
| -------Durable Goods | 1,580 | 1,590 | 1,610 | -10 | -30 | -1.9% |
| -------Nondurable Goods | 950 | 900 | 860 | 50 | 90 | 10.5% |
| ---Service Providing | 19,290 | 19,520 | 19,010 | -230 | 280 | 1.5% |
| -----Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 3,660 | 3,760 | 3,590 | -100 | 70 | 1.9% |
| -------Wholesale Trade | 530 | 520 | 530 | 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------Retail Trade | 2,620 | 2,730 | 2,550 | -110 | 70 | 2.7% |
| -------Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 510 | 520 | 510 | -10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -----Information | 110 | 110 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -----Financial Activities | 740 | 740 | 740 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -----Professional and Business Services | 1,290 | 1,300 | 1,210 | -10 | 80 | 6.6% |
| -----Education and Health Services | 3,070 | 3,100 | 3,180 | -30 | -110 | -3.5% |
| -----Leisure and Hospitality | 2,790 | 2,790 | 2,620 | 0 | 170 | 6.5% |
| -----Government | 7,000 | 7,030 | 6,850 | -30 | 150 | 2.2% |
| -------Federal Government | 190 | 180 | 180 | 10 | 10 | 5.6% |
| -------State Government | 1,260 | 1,250 | 1,260 | 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------Local Government | 5,540 | 5,590 | 5,400 | -50 | 140 | 2.6% |
| ---------Local Government Education | 1,940 | 1,970 | 1,990 | -30 | -50 | -2.5% |
Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024, updated March 17, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Industry employment (covered employment)
Once a center for forestry and other goods producing sectors, the economy in Grays Harbor County has shifted towards services. Local government is the largest source of employment. In the private sector, the next largest major industries are split evenly between health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, retail trade, and manufacturing.
Employment by industry, Grays Harbor County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Grays Harbor County was 23,424 and the average annual wage was $53,952 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.
Top five sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
- Government (6,568)
- Health care and social assistance (2,981)
- Accommodation and food services (2,664)
- Retail trade (2,595)
- Manufacturing (2,560)
High-wage industries in Grays Harbor County tend to be smaller, except for transportation and warehousing (450). Top five sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
- Utilities ($114,496)
- Transportation and warehousing ($84,659)
- Information ($77,995)
- Management of companies and enterprises ($77,006)
- Professional, scientific, and technical services ($71,379)
Workforce demographics for Grays Harbor County
Grays Harbor County’s working age (16 and over) population is just under 63,000. The labor force participation rate is 50.9%, lower than the state average. Among the population aged 20 to 64, men and women have similar rates of labor force participation (66.2% and 69.2%) and unemployment (6.9% and 6.5%). Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for quick facts about Grays Harbor County.
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 62,918 | 50.9% | 6.6% |
| 16 to 19 years | 3,388 | 31.4% | 16.3% |
| 20 to 24 years | 3,529 | 76.7% | 6.2% |
| 25 to 29 years | 4,287 | 73.7% | 6.6% |
| 30 to 34 years | 4,641 | 76.5% | 12.1% |
| 35 to 44 years | 9,176 | 68.1% | 8.1% |
| 45 to 54 years | 8,948 | 71.8% | 4.9% |
| 55 to 59 years | 5,231 | 61.4% | 4.0% |
| 60 to 64 years | 6,280 | 50.2% | 4.5% |
| 65 to 74 years | 11,104 | 18.5% | 1.8% |
| 75 years and over | 6,334 | 7.3% | 1.9% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 52,516 | 49.8% | 6.8% |
| Black or African American alone | 1,030 | 18.0% | 12.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 2,448 | 47.9% | 5.6% |
| Asian alone | 826 | 64.9% | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 309 | 60.5% | 3.2% |
| Some other race alone | 1,537 | 74.2% | 2.6% |
| Two or more races | 4,252 | 62.2% | 7.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 5,124 | 66.4% | 6.7% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 50,651 | 49.4% | 6.6% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 42,092 | 67.6% | 6.7% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 22,421 | 66.2% | 6.9% |
| Female | 19,671 | 69.2% | 6.5% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 6,046 | 73.4% | 6.4% |
| With own children under 6 only | 1,220 | 73.2% | 13.0% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 1,357 | 65.5% | 0.4% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 3,469 | 76.5% | 6.2% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 5,481 | 38.6% | 29.7% |
| At or above the poverty level | 34,332 | 76.7% | 4.8% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 7,162 | 39.2% | 15.6% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 38,563 | 66.8% | 6.7% |
| Less than high school graduate | 4,146 | 61.9% | 13.7% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 13,747 | 57.6% | 10.5% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 14,388 | 70.8% | 4.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6,282 | 80.8% | 2.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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