May 2025 highlights
In May, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3% over the month and total nonfarm employment increased by 1,400 jobs over the month.
Summary
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3% in May 2025. One year ago, the unemployment rate was 3.9%. The labor force in Snohomish County consisted of 461,271 workers in May and decreased by 1,509 workers over the year. Nonfarm employment in Snohomish County decreased by 4,700 jobs over the year but increased by 1,400 jobs over the month.
Location
Snohomish County is situated between northern Puget Sound to the west and the crest line of the North Cascade Range to the east. It shares its northern border with rural Skagit County and its south border with King County. Snohomish County is separated from Camano Island (part of Island County) by Davis Slough. The highest point in Snohomish County is Granite Peak (10,541 feet).
The county ranks 13th statewide in terms of total land area (2,087.3 square miles). The geographic distribution of population, economic activity and land use in Snohomish County is diverse, with a mix of rural and urban zones. Population centers are oriented south near the border with King County and west along Interstate 5. By contrast, north and east Snohomish County is characterized by smaller towns and cities, farmland and reservations.
Snohomish County is part of the three-county Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA and part of the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett Metropolitan Division. Snohomish County is the only county in the Snohomish Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.
Employment situation for May 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3% in May 2025, unchanged from April and up from 3.9% one year ago.
- The labor force had 461,271 workers in May, a contraction of 1,509 workers over the year and a contraction of 5,227 over the month.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment
- Nonfarm employment in Snohomish County, at 302,300 jobs decreased by 4,700 jobs over the year in May 2025.
- Over the month, total nonfarm employment increased by 1,400.
- Aerospace product and part manufacturing declined by 2,500 jobs over the year but increased by 700 jobs over the month.
- Retail trade was up 800 jobs over the year and was up 500 jobs over the month.
- Transportation, warehousing and utilities industry jobs decreased 500 over the year and decreased 200 over the month.
- Information lost 700 jobs over the year and lost 100 over the month.
- Professional and business services decreased by 200 jobs over the year and decreased by 500 jobs over the month.
- Private education and health services increased by 3,000 jobs over the year but lost 200 jobs over the month.
- Leisure and hospitality added 1,400 jobs over the year and added 200 jobs over the month.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Snohomish County
| NAICS Industry Title | May 2025 (Prelim) | Apr 2025 (Revised) | May 2024 (Revised) | Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change | May 2024 to May 2025 Change | May 2024 to May 2025 % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 302,300 | 300,900 | 307,000 | 1,400 | -4,700 | -1.5% |
| Total private (total nonfarm less government) | 260,100 | 259,000 | 265,200 | 1,100 | -5,100 | -1.9% |
| Goods-producing | 78,500 | 77,200 | 84,100 | 1,300 | -5,600 | -6.7% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 25,100 | 24,200 | 26,600 | 900 | -1,500 | -5.6% |
| - Manufacturing | 53,400 | 53,000 | 57,500 | 400 | -4,100 | -7.1% |
| Service-providing | 223,800 | 223,700 | 222,900 | 100 | 900 | 0.4% |
| - Wholesale trade | 10,000 | 9,700 | 9,500 | 300 | 500 | 5.3% |
| - Retail trade | 35,900 | 35,400 | 35,100 | 500 | 800 | 2.3% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 7,200 | 7,400 | 7,700 | -200 | -500 | -6.5% |
| - Information | 2,900 | 3,000 | 3,600 | -100 | -700 | -19.4% |
| - Financial activities | 11,100 | 11,100 | 12,800 | 0 | -1,700 | -13.3% |
| - Professional and business services | 32,600 | 33,100 | 32,800 | -500 | -200 | -0.6% |
| - Private education and health services | 42,900 | 43,100 | 39,900 | -200 | 3,000 | 7.5% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 30,600 | 30,400 | 29,200 | 200 | 1,400 | 4.8% |
| - Other services | 7,700 | 7,900 | 10,600 | -200 | -2,900 | -27.4% |
| - Government | 42,200 | 41,900 | 41,800 | 300 | 400 | 1.0% |
Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024, updated June 18, 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, Snohomish County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Snohomish County was 292,630 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 Snohomish County was $78,847 in 2023.
Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
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Manufacturing (53,867)
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Government (39,957)
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Health care and social assistance (35,347)
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Retail trade (34,582)
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Construction (25,369)
Top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
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Professional, scientific, and technical services ($163,426)
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Information ($122,763)
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Manufacturing ($115,679)
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Utilities ($107,011)
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Finance and insurance ($105,848)
Workforce demographics in Snohomish County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 669,196 | 67.2% | 4.4% |
| 16 to 19 years | 37,608 | 37.6% | 13.1% |
| 20 to 24 years | 44,633 | 80.6% | 7.6% |
| 25 to 29 years | 55,936 | 84.9% | 4.7% |
| 30 to 34 years | 67,309 | 82.3% | 3.8% |
| 35 to 44 years | 128,069 | 83.3% | 4.0% |
| 45 to 54 years | 107,466 | 83.9% | 3.2% |
| 55 to 59 years | 52,610 | 78.4% | 3.2% |
| 60 to 64 years | 55,407 | 62.7% | 3.5% |
| 65 to 74 years | 75,971 | 28.1% | 3.7% |
| 75 years and over | 44,187 | 6.2% | 6.3% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 461,464 | 65.7% | 4.1% |
| Black or African American alone | 23,755 | 75.6% | 5.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 6,620 | 58.6% | 5.7% |
| Asian alone | 86,772 | 70.5% | 4.4% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 3,571 | 61.2% | 3.9% |
| Some other race alone | 29,319 | 71.9% | 3.4% |
| Two or more races | 57,695 | 70.0% | 6.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 66,794 | 72.3% | 3.8% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 446,503 | 65.4% | 4.2% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 511,430 | 80.5% | 4.1% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 261,812 | 86.8% | 3.8% |
| Female | 249,618 | 73.8% | 4.4% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 91,780 | 69.8% | 4.1% |
| With own children under 6 only | 22,908 | 67.3% | 3.8% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 17,677 | 56.2% | 5.0% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 51,195 | 75.6% | 4.0% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 36,198 | 42.0% | 23.1% |
| At or above the poverty level | 470,791 | 84.0% | 3.3% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 50,188 | 54.8% | 8.3% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 466,797 | 80.5% | 3.7% |
| Less than high school graduate | 32,222 | 66.2% | 3.8% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 103,156 | 75.1% | 5.2% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 153,429 | 79.9% | 3.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 177,990 | 86.6% | 3.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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