- 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
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
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7% in February 2025, up from 5.9% in January 2025 and unchanged from February 2024.
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The labor force at 11,814 workers contracted over the year, losing 318 workers.
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 at 9,270 jobs increased by 280 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and decreased by 70 jobs from January 2025.
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Construction employment at 710 jobs increased by 20 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and was unchanged from January 2025.
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Nondurable goods manufacturing employment at 450 jobs decreased by 10 from February 2024 to February 2025 and decreased by 50 jobs from January 2025.
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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.
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Leisure and hospitality employment at 1,210 jobs increased by 100 jobs from February 2024 to February 2025 and was unchanged from January 2025.
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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 2024, updated 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
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:
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Government (2,492)
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Accommodation and food service (1,091)
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Retail Trade (1,077)
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Health care and social services (772)
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Construction (710)
Top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
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Mining and Utilities* ($109,645)
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Professional, scientific, and technical services ($98,924)
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Government ($75,373)
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Manufacturing ($73,563)
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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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