Clallam County profile

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

- Posted June 2025
 

May 2025 highlights

In May, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.2% to 4.4% and total nonfarm employment gained 160 jobs.

Summary

Clallam County has 30,204 workers in its labor force for May 2025. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4%. The unemployment rate was 4.2% a month ago. Total nonfarm employment was 25,340 jobs, up 110 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025 and up 160 jobs over the month.

Location

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

Clallam County occupies a long and narrow area in the most northwestern corner of Washington state. Encompassing part of the Olympic Peninsula, the county includes 1,738 square miles of mostly forested and mountainous land. Clallam County is full of natural wonders and many tourists and locals visit the Olympic National Park, which attracted over 2.7 million visitors in 2021.

The region's 200 miles of coastline have fostered maritime and fishing industries. Traditionally, much of the economy of the county has reflected this natural abundance with jobs in forestry, wood products and fisheries. As demand has declined for goods-producing and agricultural products in the county, the service sector, including leisure and tourism, has grown in their place.

Clallam 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 May 2025

Monthly labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.4% in May 2025, down from 4.6% last year and up from 4.2% last month.

  • The labor force was 30,204 workers, relative to 30,788 workers in May 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

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

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

Payroll employment in Clallam County

  • Total nonfarm employment was 25,340 jobs, gaining 110 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025 and gaining 160 jobs from May 2025.

  • Mining logging and construction was up 20 jobs over the month, however, was down 20 jobs over the year.

  • Manufacturing was up 10 jobs over the month but down 40 jobs over the year.

  • Wholesale trade was up 30 jobs over the year, but no gain was seen from last month.

  • Retail trade decreased by 130 jobs over the year but increased by 10 jobs over the month.

  • Private education and health care services increased 20 jobs over the month but decreased by 10 jobs over the year.

  • Leisure and hospitality lost 20 jobs from May 2024 but gained 40 jobs from April 2025.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Clallam 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 25,340 25,180 25,230 160 110 0.4%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 16,570 16,500 16,780 70 -210 -1.3%
Goods-producing 2,710 2,690 2,770 20 -60 -2.2%
- Mining and logging 380 380 380 0 0 0.0%
- Construction 1,250 1,230 1,260 20 -10 -0.8%
- Manufacturing 1,090 1,080 1,130 10 -40 -3.5%
Service-providing 22,640 22,490 22,460 150 180 0.8%
- Wholesale trade 350 350 320 0 30 9.4%
- Retail trade 3,320 3,310 3,450 10 -130 -3.8%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 460 460 450 0 10 2.2%
- Information 170 170 160 0 10 6.3%
- Financial activities 670 670 640 0 30 4.7%
- Professional and business services 1,800 1,870 1,820 -70 -20 -1.1%
- Private education and health services 3,390 3,370 3,400 20 -10 -0.3%
- Leisure and hospitality 2,910 2,870 2,930 40 -20 -0.7%
- Other services 800 750 850 50 -50 -5.9%
- Government 8,770 8,680 8,440 90 330 3.9%

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) in Clallam County

Employment by industry, Clallam County 2023 annual average

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

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

Average annual covered employment in Clallam County was 24,603 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 Clallam County was $52,503 in 2023.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Government (8,029)
  • Retail trade (3,525)
  • Health care and social assistance (2,924)
  • Accommodation and food services (2,639)
  • Construction (1,287)

The top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

  • Management of companies and enterprises ($80,306)
  • Finance and insurance ($70,361)
  • Information ($69,252)
  • Professional, scientific and technical services ($67,009)
  • Government ($66,931)

Workforce demographics in Clallam County

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

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 66,470 47.8% 6.0%
16 to 19 years 2,830 40.1% 18.3%
20 to 24 years 3,078 72.6% 12.7%
25 to 29 years 3,733 82.2% 8.8%
30 to 34 years 4,301 73.1% 5.4%
35 to 44 years 8,622 77.7% 5.4%
45 to 54 years 7,550 73.6% 4.1%
55 to 59 years 4,598 60.4% 6.0%
60 to 64 years 7,332 51.8% 3.2%
65 to 74 years 14,569 19.0% 3.3%
75 years and over 9,857 5.9% 2.2%

Race and Hispanic or Latino origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 56,363 46.0% 5.7%
Black or African American alone 551 49.4% 0.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 2,141 59.8% 10.5%
Asian alone 1,232 64.4% 7.4%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 33 42.4% 0.0%
Some other race alone 1,246 65.7% 5.8%
Two or more races 4,904 54.0% 6.7%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 3,477 62.8% 6.3%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 55,360 45.7% 5.6%
Population 20 to 64 years 39,214 69.6% 5.8%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 19,591 71.8% 6.3%
Female 19,623 67.4% 5.3%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 5,604 71.6% 3.7%
With own children under 6 only 1,133 55.1% 5.3%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 1,496 67.6% 4.7%
With own children 6 to 17 only 2,975 79.8% 2.9%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 5,075 37.1% 34.7%
At or above the poverty level 33,556 75.6% 3.7%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 6,819 38.9% 15.1%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 36,136 69.3% 5.2%
Less than high school graduate 3,186 54.7% 10.2%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 9,516 68.9% 4.1%
Some college or associate's degree 13,633 67.4% 7.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher 9,801 77.2% 2.4%

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

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