- Posted April 2025
March 2025 Highlights
In March, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 5.2% to 4.2% and total nonfarm employment increased by 400.
Summary
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 % in March 2025, down from 5.3% in February 2025 and down from 4.9% in March 2024. Kitsap County’s labor force had an estimated 118,771 workers in March 2025. Total nonfarm employment increased by 400 over the month and by 1,300 over the year. The total number of nonfarm jobs in Kitsap County was estimated as 97,300 in the most recent report.
Location
Kitsap County is the northern end of the Kitsap Peninsula, jutting into the Puget Sound between the Olympic Peninsula to the west and King County to the east. It is between Hood Canal and Admiralty Strait. Water transportation is dominant in the culture and economy. The county seat is Port Orchard.
Kitsap County is one of the smallest counties in the state in terms of land area at about 395 square miles. It ranks third, however, in the state in terms of its population density, with 750 people per square mile.
Kitsap County is synonymous with the Bremerton-Silverdale Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Kitsap 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 March 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 % in March 2025, down from 5.2% in February 2025 and down from 4.9% in March 2024.
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The labor force was estimated at 118,771 workers. This estimate is down 4,024 or 0.03% over the year.
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 estimated at 97,300 in March 2025. Kitsap County employers collectively added 400 jobs from February to March 2025 and added 1,300 jobs over the year.
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Over the month, sector level shifts were modest. Only 2 sectors detailed in this report added jobs: mining, logging and construction and leisure and hospitality each added an estimated 100 jobs. No sectors detailed in this report shed jobs in March.
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Over the year, goods producing sectors remained unchanged. The largest sector level gains were attributable to government hiring (up 800) and the deepest losses were observed in retail trade (down 200).
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Kitsap County
| NAICS Industry Title | Mar 2025 (Prelim) | Feb 2025 (Revised) | Mar 2024 (Revised) | Feb 2025 to Mar 2025 Change | Mar 2024 to Mar 2025 Change | Mar 2024 to Mar 2025 % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 97,300 | 96,900 | 96,000 | 400 | 1,300 | 1.4% |
| Total private (total nonfarm less government) | 61,500 | 61,100 | 61,000 | 400 | 500 | 0.8% |
| Goods-producing | 7,300 | 7,200 | 7,300 | 100 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 4,700 | 4,600 | 4,700 | 100 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Manufacturing | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,600 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Service-providing | 90,000 | 89,700 | 88,700 | 300 | 1,300 | 1.5% |
| - Trade, transportation, and utilities | 13,500 | 13,500 | 13,400 | 0 | 100 | 0.7% |
| - - Retail trade | 10,600 | 10,600 | 10,800 | 0 | -200 | -1.9% |
| - Professional and business services | 9,700 | 9,700 | 9,700 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 9,400 | 9,300 | 9,500 | 100 | -100 | -1.1% |
| - Government | 35,800 | 35,800 | 35,000 | 0 | 800 | 2.3% |
Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024, updated April 17, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Detailed tables can be found on the source page in the third spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted.
Industry employment (covered employment)
Employment by industry, Kitsap County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Kitsap County was 93,040 in 2023. Covered employment refers to state workers covered by state unemployment insurance (UI) laws and federal workers covered by federal unemployment compensation program.
Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
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Government (33,850)
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Health care and social assistance (12,227)
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Retail trade (10,803)
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Accommodation and food services (8,413)
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Professional, scientific and technical services (5,615)
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 Kitsap County for all industries was $67,613 in 2023.
Top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
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Information ($128,317)
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Utilities ($124,893)
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Management of companies and enterprises ($99,098)
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Professional, scientific and technical services ($97,273)
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Finance and insurance ($90,796)
Workforce demographics in Kitsap County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 227,461 | 61.9% | 4.8% |
| 16 to 19 years | 11,552 | 44.0% | 18.9% |
| 20 to 24 years | 19,485 | 89.5% | 8.2% |
| 25 to 29 years | 19,980 | 82.9% | 5.0% |
| 30 to 34 years | 20,072 | 81.0% | 4.6% |
| 35 to 44 years | 36,023 | 83.1% | 3.9% |
| 45 to 54 years | 30,759 | 78.7% | 3.0% |
| 55 to 59 years | 18,392 | 72.2% | 3.4% |
| 60 to 64 years | 18,333 | 54.6% | 3.0% |
| 65 to 74 years | 32,537 | 20.7% | 5.9% |
| 75 years and over | 20,328 | 6.3% | 1.5% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| White alone | 178,473 | 60.4% | 4.6% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black or African American alone | 5,853 | 70.9% | 1.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 2,276 | 63.8% | 4.4% |
| Asian alone | 11,795 | 61.7% | 4.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 1,976 | 57.7% | 4.5% |
| Some other race alone | 5,523 | 74.2% | 5.0% |
| Two or more races | 21,565 | 69.1% | 7.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 17,894 | 71.6% | 5.7% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 172,926 | 59.8% | 4.6% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 163,044 | 78.3% | 4.2% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 86,143 | 86.2% | 4.2% |
| Female | 76,901 | 69.5% | 4.3% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 26,645 | 65.8% | 3.4% |
| With own children under 6 only | 7,524 | 59.8% | 3.6% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 4,940 | 56.8% | 5.1% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 14,181 | 72.2% | 2.8% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 13,119 | 42.1% | 19.1% |
| At or above the poverty level | 145,050 | 81.2% | 3.5% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 18,965 | 50.3% | 10.6% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 143,559 | 76.8% | 3.8% |
| Less than high school graduate | 6,862 | 56.5% | 8.4% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 31,765 | 71.0% | 6.5% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 54,335 | 76.9% | 3.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50,597 | 83.0% | 2.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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