Jefferson County profile

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

- Posted April 2025

Summary

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7% in February 2025, up from 5.9% in January 2025 and unchanged from February 2024. The Jefferson County labor force has 11,814 workers. Total nonfarm employment at 9,270 jobs increased by 280 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and decreased by 70 jobs from January 2025.

Geography

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

 

Jefferson County is located on the Olympic Peninsula in northwestern Washington state. It is nestled between the Admiralty Inlet and Clallam, Mason, Grays Harbor and Kitsap counties. It faces the Pacific Ocean to the west and Hood Canal to the east. Named for President Thomas Jefferson, it was created in 1852 from a portion of Lewis County. The county seat is Port Townsend.

Much of Jefferson County is publicly managed. About 60% of the county comprises the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest and roughly 20% percent is under state and federal jurisdiction. The Hoh Reservation and a small corner of the Quinault Reservation are also located in Jefferson County. Jefferson County is a mid-sized county, ranking 18th in the state in land area. Its population density, as measured by people per square mile, ranks 29th.

Jefferson 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

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7% in February 2025, up from 5.9% in January 2025 and unchanged from February 2024.

  • The labor force at 11,814 workers contracted over the year, losing 318 workers.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and Jefferson County from January 2015 to February 2025.

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

Payroll employment

  • Total nonfarm employment at 9,270 jobs increased by 280 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and decreased by 70 jobs from January 2025.

  • Construction employment at 710 jobs increased by 20 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and was unchanged from January 2025.

  • Nondurable goods manufacturing employment at 450 jobs decreased by 10 from February 2024 to February 2025 and decreased by 50 jobs from January 2025.

  • Retail trade employment at 1,060 jobs increased by 20 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and decreased by 50 jobs from January 2025.

  • Leisure and hospitality employment at 1,210 jobs increased by 100 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and was unchanged from January 2025.

  • Government employment at 2,690 jobs increased by 130 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and increased by 10 jobs from January 2025.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Jefferson 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 9,270 9,340 8,990 -70 280 3.1%
- Total private (total nonfarm less government) 6,570 6,660 6,430 -90 140 2.2%
- - Goods-producing 1,350 1,400 1,360 -50 -10 -0.7%
- - - - - Mining and logging 20 20 20 0 0 0.0%
- - - - - Construction 710 710 690 0 0 0.0%
- - - - Manufacturing 620 670 650 0 20 3.1%
- - Service-providing 7,920 7,940 7,630 -20 290 3.8%
- - - - - Wholesale trade 210 220 210 -10 0 0.0%
- - - - - Retail trade 1,060 1,110 1,040 -50 20 1.9%
- - - - - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 110 100 100 10 10 10.0%
- - - - Information 90 90 90 0 0 0.0%
- - - - Financial activities 280 280 270 0 10 3.7%
- - - - Professional and business services 510 510 500 0 10 2.0%
- - - - Private education and health services 1,190 1,180 1,200 10 -10 -0.8%
- - - - Leisure and hospitality 1,210 1,210 1,110 0 100 9.0%
- - - - Other services 560 560 540 0 20 3.7%
- - Government 2,690 2,680 2,560 10 130 5.1%

Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024updated March 28, 2025.

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

Industry employment (covered employment)

Employment by industry, Jefferson County 2023 annual average

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

Note: ND stands for not disclosed. ND is used to avoid disclosing data for individual employers. Industries labeled ND are grouped in the Not elsewhere classified category.

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

Average annual covered employment in Jefferson County was 8,968 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 Jefferson County was $54,891 in 2023.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Government (2,492)

  • Accommodation and food service (1,091)

  • Retail Trade (1,077)

  • Health care and social services (772)

  • Construction (710)

Top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

  • Mining and Utilities* ($109,645)

  • Professional, scientific, and technical services ($98,924)

  • Government ($75,373)

  • Manufacturing ($73,563)

  • Finance and insurance ($62,567)

Workforce demographics in Jefferson County

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 29,896 43.3% 7.7%
16 to 19 years 719 44.9% 20.9%
20 to 24 years 943 78.3% 25.6%
25 to 29 years 1,334 75.0% 3.0%
30 to 34 years 1,570 77.5% 5.8%
35 to 44 years 3,156 73.9% 6.9%
45 to 54 years 3,297 72.1% 8.4%
55 to 59 years 2,602 64.7% 8.2%
60 to 64 years 3,094 46.5% 7.6%
65 to 74 years 8,080 19.3% 1.7%
75 years and over 5,101 5.3% 0.0%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 26,198 43.0% 7.7%
Black or African American alone 114 47.4% 0.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 309 57.9% 15.6%
Asian alone 443 33.9% 0.0%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 29 75.9% 0.0%
Some other race alone 724 34.7% 1.2%
Two or more races 2,079 48.5% 9.8%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 1,077 58.0% 7.6%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 25,880 42.7% 7.8%
Population 20 to 64 years 15,996 67.4% 8.3%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 7,899 68.5% 9.1%
Female 8,097 66.4% 7.6%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 2,161 63.5% 8.6%
With own children under 6 only 568 54.0% 6.2%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 419 40.8% 0.0%
With own children 6 to 17 only 1,174 76.2% 11.1%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 2,175 29.5% 22.5%
At or above the poverty level 13,467 75.3% 7.4%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 2,246 34.8% 13.2%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 15,053 66.7% 7.1%
Less than high school graduate 830 45.9% 4.7%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 3,302 68.2% 10.0%
Some college or associate's degree 5,138 64.6% 6.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher 5,783 70.8% 5.9%

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

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