Whatcom County profile

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

Posted May 2025
 

April 2025 Highlights

In April, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4/0% to 3.7% over the year and total nonfarm employment increased by 2,200 jobs over the month.

Summary

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7% in April 2025, down from 4.2% in March 2025 and 4.0% in April 2024 respectively. Whatcom County’s labor force was 107,779 workers. Total nonfarm employment increased by 2,200 to 97,100 jobs from March 2025 to April 2025. Retail trade decreased by 300 jobs over the year- making up a significant portion of the 700 jobs lost in trade, transportation and utilities. Leisure and hospitality decreased by 400 jobs since March, while unchanged compared to April 2024. 

Location

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

 

Whatcom County is in northwest Washington. It borders British Columbia, Canada, to the north, Skagit County to the south, and Okanogan County to the east. The Salish Sea lies to the west and the Cascade Mountains rise to the east. Whatcom County’s elevation ranges from sea level to 10,781 feet atop active volcano Mount Baker, also known as Kulshan.

Whatcom is part of the Bellingham Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is also part of Workforce Development Area 3, along with Skagit, San Juan and Island counties. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.

Employment situation for April 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7% in April 2025, down from 4.2% in March 2025 and down relative to 4.0% in April 2024. 

  • The labor force contracted by 6,249 workers since April 2024. The April 2025 total is 107,779 workers.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and Whatcom County from January 2015 to April 2025

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

Payroll employment

  • Total nonfarm employment increased by 2,200 jobs to 997,100 jobs from March 2025 to April 2025, however it was down 300 jobs compared to April 2024. 

  • Manufacturing was up 200 jobs compared to April 2024. 

  • Trade, transportation and utilities decreased by 100 jobs since March, and 700 jobs compared to April 2024. Retail trade made up 300 jobs of the year’s losses. 

  • Leisure and hospitality decreased by 400 jobs since March, while unchanged compared to April 2024.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Whatcom County

NAICS Industry Title Apr 2025 (Prelim) Mar 2025 (Revised) Apr 2024 (Revised) Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 97,100 94,900 97,400 2,200 -300 -0.3%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 77,400 75,600 77,600 1,800 -200 -0.3%
Goods-producing 17,300 15,100 17,300 2,200 0 0.0%
- Mining, logging and construction 8,100 6,100 8,300 2,000 -200 -2.4%
- Manufacturing 9,200 9,000 9,000 200 200 2.2%
Service-providing 79,800 79,800 80,100 0 -300 -0.4%
- Trade, transportation, and utilities 15,500 15,600 16,200 -100 -700 -4.3%
- - Retail trade 10,600 10,600 10,900 0 -300 -2.8%
- Financial activities 4,000 3,600 4,200 400 -200 -4.8%
- Professional and business services 9,200 9,300 9,400 -100 -200 -2.1%
- Leisure and hospitality 10,000 10,400 10,000 -400 0 0.0%
- Government 19,700 19,300 19,800 400 -100 -0.5%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024, updated May 16, 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, Whatcom County 2023 annual average

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

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

Note: ND stands for not disclosed. ND is used to avoid disclosing data for individual employers. Industries labeled ND are grouped in the Not elsewhere classified category.

Average annual covered employment in Whatcom County was 93,909 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 Whatcom County was $61,929 in 2023.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Government (15,105)
  • Health care and social assistance (12,938)
  • Retail trade (10,619)
  • Manufacturing (9,052)
  • Accommodation and food services (8,842)

Top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

  • Information ($128,952)
  • Finance and insurance ($112,239)
  • Professional, scientific and technical services ($95,353)
  • Management of companies and enterprises ($86,833)
  • Construction ($83,608)

Workforce demographics in Whatcom County

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 190,060 63.0% 5.1%
16 to 19 years 11,987 47.0% 23.0%
20 to 24 years 22,680 78.3% 8.8%
25 to 29 years 16,170 81.7% 4.7%
30 to 34 years 15,366 79.1% 2.8%
35 to 44 years 29,098 87.7% 2.4%
45 to 54 years 25,513 82.2% 3.4%
55 to 59 years 12,648 74.2% 3.5%
60 to 64 years 14,343 58.8% 3.8%
65 to 74 years 26,015 22.1% 2.8%
75 years and over 16,240 5.5% 11.7%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 153,135 61.7% 5.0%
Black or African American alone 1,729 67.9% 11.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 3,473 59.8% 10.2%
Asian alone 8,345 66.2% 2.5%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 576 75.2% 4.5%
Some other race alone 7,626 77.1% 3.6%
Two or more races 15,176 66.9% 5.8%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 16,622 70.7% 4.1%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 149,235 61.4% 5.0%
Population 20 to 64 years 135,818 79.1% 4.2%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 67,970 84.0% 4.5%
Female 67,848 74.2% 3.8%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 20,867 71.3% 3.2%
With own children under 6 only 4,727 66.0% 4.4%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 4,423 63.2% 3.4%
With own children 6 to 17 only 11,717 76.5% 2.7%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 18,236 51.2% 16.6%
At or above the poverty level 116,464 83.9% 3.0%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 15,157 51.0% 8.1%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 113,138 79.3% 3.3%
Less than high school graduate 7,523 66.7% 1.7%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 23,492 74.7% 4.1%
Some college or associate's degree 39,185 76.1% 3.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher 42,938 86.8% 2.9%

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

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

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