- Posted February 2025
Summary
Total nonfarm employment was 97,800 in December 2024 (preliminary) — up 300 from November’s revised total of 97,500 and up 1,400 from December 2023.
From November to December, retail trade gained 200 and leisure and hospitality gained 100. Government employment lost 100.
From December 2023 to December 2024, government gained 600, professional and business services gained 300, construction gained 200, and trade transportation and utilities gained 300. Leisure and hospitality lost 400 compared with the same period last year.
The preliminary employment rate in Kitsap County was 4.4% in December 2024 — a slight increase from the November rate of 4.3%. The unemployment rate was 4.7% in December 2023.
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 December 2024
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4% in December 2024, up from 4.3% in November 2024 and down from 4.7% in December 2023.
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The labor force contracted over the year, losing 5,721 participants.
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 increased by 300 jobs from November 2024 to December 2024.
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Overall, employment growth continues but is slowing.
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Employment increased the most in trade, transportation, warehousing and utilities (including gains in retail trade). The leisure and hospitality sector also added jobs in December. Government employment fell in November.
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Total nonfarm employment expanded by 1,400 from December 2023 to December 2024.
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Overall, government, and leisure and hospitality posted 12-month gains.
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Trade, transportation, warehousing and utilities and professional and business services each shed jobs over the same time.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Kitsap County
| NAICS Industry Title | Dec 2024 (Preliminary) | Nov 2024 (Revised) | Dec 2023 (Revised) | Nov 2024 to Dec 2024 change | Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 change | Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Nonfarm | 97,800 | 97,500 | 96,400 | 300 | 1,400 | 1.5% |
| Total Private | 62,500 | 62,100 | 61,700 | 400 | 800 | 1.3% |
| Goods Producing | 7,600 | 7,600 | 7,300 | 0 | 300 | 4.1% |
| ---Mining, Logging, and Construction | 5,000 | 5,000 | 4,800 | 0 | 200 | 4.2% |
| ---Manufacturing | 2,600 | 2,600 | 2,500 | 0 | 100 | 4.0% |
| Service Providing | 90,200 | 89,900 | 89,100 | 300 | 1,100 | 1.2% |
| ---Private Services Providing | 54,900 | 54,500 | 54,400 | 400 | 500 | 0.9% |
| ---Trade, Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 14,100 | 13,700 | 13,800 | 400 | 300 | 2.2% |
| -------Retail Trade | 11,100 | 10,900 | 11,000 | 200 | 100 | 0.9% |
| ---Professional and Business Services | 9,900 | 9,900 | 9,600 | 0 | 300 | 3.1% |
| ---Leisure and Hospitality | 9500 | 9400 | 9900 | 100 | -400 | -4.0% |
| ---Government | 35,300 | 35,400 | 34,700 | -100 | 600 | 1.7% |
| -------Federal Government | 21,300 | 21,400 | 20,900 | -100 | 400 | 1.9% |
| -------Total State Government | 1,800 | 1,800 | 1,800 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------Total Local Government | 12,200 | 12,200 | 12,000 | 0 | 200 | 1.7% |
Note: Data benchmarked through June 2024, updated Jan. 16, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
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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