Posted February 2025
Summary
Mason County is small and largely rural. As such, the largest employment sector is local government. Many residents commute to nearby Thurston, Pierce, and Kitsap counties. Within Mason County, the largest private employment sectors are retail trade, accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, and manufacturing.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate in Mason County hit a peak of 17.4%. Unemployment returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2022, and has hovered in the 5-6% rate since.
Location
Mason county is in the South Puget Sound region. Its neighboring counties are Jefferson and Kitsap counties to the north, Pierce County to the east, Thurston County to the south, and Grays Harbor County to the west. The largest city is Shelton.
Mason County is part of the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 workforce regions.
Employment situation for December 2024
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.0% in December 2024, up from 5.7% in November 2024 and down from 6.5% in December 2023.
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The total civilian labor force was 24,965, with little change from the previous year.
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The number of unemployed persons was 1,504, down slightly from 1,645 in December 2023.
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 15,210 in December 2024, not seasonally adjusted. This was down by 260 jobs from the previous month, but up by 110 jobs (0.7%) from December 2023.
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Over the year, employment in goods producing industries decreased by 80 jobs. Employment in service providing industries increased by 180 jobs.
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The largest over the year increases were in government (130 jobs), wholesale trade (90 jobs), and professional and business services (50 jobs).
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The largest over the year decreases were in retail trade (-120 jobs), manufacturing (-80 jobs), and in state and local government education (-60 jobs).
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Mason 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 | 15,210 | 15,470 | 15,100 | -260 | 110 | 0.7% |
| Total Private | 9,330 | 9,550 | 9,350 | -220 | -20 | -0.2% |
| Goods Producing | 1,650 | 1,650 | 1,720 | 0 | -70 | -4.1% |
| ---Mining, Logging, and Construction | 790 | 780 | 780 | 10 | 10 | 1.3% |
| ---Manufacturing | 860 | 870 | 940 | -10 | -80 | -8.5% |
| Service Providing | 13,560 | 13,820 | 13,380 | -260 | 180 | 1.3% |
| ---Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 3,100 | 3,370 | 3,130 | -270 | -30 | -1.0% |
| -------Wholesale Trade | 890 | 1,190 | 800 | -300 | 90 | 11.3% |
| -------Retail Trade | 1,900 | 1,900 | 2,020 | 0 | -120 | -5.9% |
| ---Information and Financial Activities | 460 | 460 | 500 | 0 | -40 | -8.0% |
| ---Professional and Business Services | 750 | 740 | 700 | 10 | 50 | 7.1% |
| ---Education and Health Services | 1,330 | 1,320 | 1,360 | 10 | -30 | -2.2% |
| ---Leisure and Hospitality | 1,490 | 1,470 | 1,380 | 20 | 110 | 8.0% |
| ---Government | 5,880 | 5,920 | 5,750 | -40 | 130 | 2.3% |
| -------Federal Government | 70 | 70 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------State and Local Government | 5,810 | 5,850 | 5,680 | -40 | 130 | 2.3% |
| -----------State and Local Government Education | 1,490 | 1,520 | 1,550 | -30 | -60 | -3.9% |
Note: Data benchmarked through June 2024, updated Jan. 16, 2025. Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Industry employment (covered employment)
Employment by industry, Mason County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Mason County was 14,639 and the average annual wage was $54,836 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.
Government is the largest employer in Mason County. At 5,642 jobs, this sector is as large as the next three biggest (retail trade, accommodation and food services, and healthcare and social assistance).
Top five sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
- Government (5,642)
- Retail trade (1,755)
- Accommodation and food services (1,330)
- Health care and social assistance (1,271)
- Manufacturing (928)
The top five sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
- Professional, scientific, and technical services ($83,484)
- Finance and insurance ($70,585)
- Government ($70,365)
- Information ($63,570)
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ($61,849)
Workforce demographics for Mason County
Mason County has a large population 55 and older, which contributes to a lower labor force participation rate (50.5%) than the statewide average. Younger workers tend to have higher unemployment, as do workers with disabilities (11.4% unemployment) and those with less than a high school diploma (11.0% unemployment). Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for quick facts about Mason County.
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 55,467 | 50.5% | 6.6% |
| 16 to 19 years | 2,885 | 33.8% | 21.8% |
| 20 to 24 years | 3,251 | 76.1% | 16.7% |
| 25 to 29 years | 3,891 | 75.5% | 8.1% |
| 30 to 34 years | 4,117 | 70.1% | 4.1% |
| 35 to 44 years | 7,914 | 74.6% | 7.3% |
| 45 to 54 years | 7,268 | 73.6% | 5.9% |
| 55 to 59 years | 4,642 | 69.2% | 2.4% |
| 60 to 64 years | 5,617 | 45.0% | 0.5% |
| 65 to 74 years | 9,982 | 16.0% | 2.0% |
| 75 years and over | 5,900 | 3.1% | 4.4% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 45,183 | 48.5% | 4.9% |
| Black or African American alone | 637 | 54.0% | 9.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 1,008 | 41.6% | 6.0% |
| Asian alone | 634 | 59.5% | 9.5% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 176 | 49.4% | 3.4% |
| Some other race alone | 2,818 | 66.6% | 16.8% |
| Two or more races | 5,011 | 60.0% | 12.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 5,049 | 66.0% | 13.1% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 44,088 | 48.4% | 4.9% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 36,700 | 68.9% | 6.3% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 19,587 | 72.7% | 6.4% |
| Female | 17,113 | 64.5% | 6.3% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 5,030 | 68.5% | 8.3% |
| With own children under 6 only | 1,263 | 70.6% | 3.5% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 1,090 | 58.0% | 4.6% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 2,677 | 71.8% | 11.7% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 4,549 | 38.2% | 22.7% |
| At or above the poverty level | 31,136 | 75.6% | 5.1% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 6,164 | 39.0% | 11.4% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 33,449 | 68.2% | 5.2% |
| Less than high school graduate | 3,660 | 58.5% | 11.0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 10,282 | 63.7% | 7.7% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 12,685 | 69.1% | 3.1% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6,822 | 78.4% | 3.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status.
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