Lincoln County profile

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

Posted April 2025
 

March 2025 Highlights

In March, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 7.2% to 6.1% and total nonfarm employment increased by 0.8% over the year.

Summary

Lincoln County is in the northeast region of Washington state. There are around 11,738 people residing in Lincoln County as of 2023. The largest demographic is people 65 to 74 years of age with 15.6% of total population share. 

Lincoln County’s economy is predominantly natural resource-based economy significant land owned by the Colville Confederated Tribe and Colville National Forest. Less than 18% of the county is privately owned. Early settlers were drawn by gold and transitioned to lumber post-gold rush. Access was improved in the 1930s with the creation and development of Lake Roosevelt by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Gold mining in Republic was a major source of employment, though it’s been declining since 2018. Federal, state, and local government jobs on public lands mitigate job losses. 

Labor supply in the county is around 4,676 workers, with 4.9% out of work or looking for a job in 2023. There was an average of 411 businesses during 2023 which demand around 2,807 workers.  

Lincoln County geographic overview

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

 

Lincoln County is located in the eastern part of Washington state. It is known for its rich agricultural heritage. The city of Davenport serves as the county seat and is also the largest city in Lincoln County.

The county covers 2,339 square miles, including 36 square miles of water. It features a diverse landscape with rolling wheat fields, river valleys, and the scenic shores of Lake Roosevelt.

Lincoln County was created out of Whitman County in 1883 and is named after Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.

Washington has 12 regional Workforce Development Areas. Lincoln County is part of Area 10, the Eastern Washington Partnership. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.

Lincoln County employment situation for March 2025

Monthly labor force and unemployment

  • As of March 2025, Lincoln County has experienced notable employment and unemployment trends. Employment levels remain relatively stable, with a slight decrease in total labor force, employment and unemployment.

  • Lincoln County has more than 3,778 people in the labor force, with a decrease of 5.6% or 223 workers from March 2024. The employed workforce decreased by 4.4% or 165 workers over the year. Unemployed workers decreased by 20.1% or 58 workers. About 230 people were unemployed and looking for work.

  • The unemployment rate in the county was 6.1% in March 2025, which decreased from 7.9% in February 2025 and from 7.2% in March 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and Lincoln County from January 2014 to March 2025.

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

Monthly nonfarm payroll employment in Lincoln County, Washington

  • As of March 2025, total nonfarm employment in Lincoln County was 2,580 jobs. Total nonfarm employment remained unchanged over the month and decreased by 30 jobs or 1.1%, over the year. Private sectors increased by 20 jobs or 1.5% over the month, totaling 1,320 jobs, and by 10 jobs or 0.8% over the year.

  • Goods producing sectors with total employment of 330 jobs remained unchanged over the month and increased by 10 jobs or 3.1% from March 2024 to March 2025.

    • Construction and manufacturing remained unchanged over the month and over the year.

  • Service providing sectors, with 2,260 jobs, remained unchanged over the month and decreased by 20 jobs or 0.9% from March 2024 to March 2025.

    • Trade, transportation, and utilities increased by 10 jobs or 2.4% over the month and remained unchanged over the year.

    • Information and financial activities remained unchanged over the month and over the year.

    • Professional and business services remained unchanged over the month and over the year, with a total of 180 jobs.

    • Private education and health services remained unchanged over the month and over the year with a total of 100 jobs.

    • Leisure and hospitality, with total of 160 jobs, increased by 10 jobs or 6.7% over the month and 20 jobs or 14.3%, over the year.

  • Government services, with total of 1,260 jobs including public educational services, decreased by 20 jobs or 1.6% over the month and 40 jobs or 3.1%, over the year.  

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Lincoln 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 2,580 2,580 2,610 0 -30 -1.1%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 1,320 1,300 1,310 20 10 0.8%
Goods-producing 330 330 320 0 10 3.1%
- Mining, logging and construction 300 300 300 0 0 0.0%
- Manufacturing 30 30 30 0 0 0.0%
Service-providing 2,260 2,260 2,280 0 -20 -0.9%
- Wholesale trade 150 150 150 0 0 0.0%
- Retail trade 200 200 210 0 -10 -4.8%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 80 70 80 10 0 0.0%
- Information 10 10 10 0 0 0.0%
- Financial activities 50 50 50 0 0 0.0%
- Professional and business services 180 180 180 0 0 0.0%
- Private education and health services 100 100 100 0 0 0.0%
- Leisure and hospitality 160 150 140 10 20 14.3%
- Other services 70 70 80 0 -10 -12.5%
- Government 1,260 1,280 1,300 -20 -40 -3.1%

Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024updated 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.

Total covered employment

Employment by industry, Lincoln County 2023 annual average

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

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

Average annual covered employment in Lincoln County was 2,807 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 Lincoln County was $49,585 in 2023.

Top five sectors in terms of employment counts during 2023:

  • Government (1,225)
  • Construction (319)
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (276)
  • Retail trade (187)
  • Wholesale trade (172)

Top five sectors in terms of earnings during 2023:

  • Utilities ($99,126)
  • Construction ($62,869)
  • Wholesale trade ($58,802)
  • Finance and insurance ($58,454)
  • Other ($58,434)

Workforce demographics in Lincoln County

The labor force participation rate is highest among the 35 to 39 years age group at 83.7%, while the 65 to 74 age group has the lowest at 24.6%. Participation rate for labor force prime working population 20 to 64 years of age was 73.8%.

Male workers have a slightly higher participation rate (78.3%) compared to female workers (69.2%). Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher have the highest participation rate at 85.9%, while those with less than a high school diploma have the lowest at 48.6%.

Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Lincoln County.

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 9,146 53.4% 5.5%
16 to 19 years 558 34.9% 19.5%
20 to 24 years 519 72.1% 16.8%
25 to 29 years 462 72.7% 5.1%
30 to 34 years 480 83.1% 4.1%
35 to 44 years 1,243 83.7% 3.9%
45 to 54 years 1,245 81.6% 5.5%
55 to 59 years 723 62.2% 6.4%
60 to 64 years 1,005 57.4% 0.9%
65 to 74 years 1,763 24.6% 0.0%
75 years and over 1,148 5.5% 4.8%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 8,389 53.2% 5.4%
Black or African American alone 59 50.8% 56.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 204 43.1% 0.0%
Asian alone 71 43.7% 6.5%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 21 95.2% 0.0%
Some other race alone 108 78.7% 0.0%
Two or more races 294 57.1% 3.7%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 318 66.4% 11.8%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 8,289 52.9% 5.4%
Population 20 to 64 years 5,677 73.8% 5.4%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 2,868 78.3% 4.8%
Female 2,809 69.2% 6.2%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 940 72.1% 5.9%
With own children under 6 only 150 50.7% 22.4%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 272 65.1% 0.0%
With own children 6 to 17 only 518 82.0% 5.4%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 563 39.6% 12.6%
At or above the poverty level 5,077 78.2% 5.0%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 1,028 52.4% 10.4%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 5,158 74.0% 4.3%
Less than high school graduate 354 48.6% 14.5%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 1,347 68.2% 7.0%
Some college or associate's degree 2,195 74.9% 2.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher 1,262 85.9% 2.6%

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

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