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July 2026 highlights
Updated August 2026
Compared to June 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 4.0% to 3.2% (55 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 10 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 1,190 jobs).
Columbia County's labor market highlights
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Columbia County’s economy is characterized by a small, stable labor market with a strong reliance on service-based sectors and proactive regional updates to sustain long-term infrastructure. Positioned as Washington's third least-populous county, its economic activity is centered largely around the city of Dayton and agricultural corridors.
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Unemployment rate remained higher than the state, while total county payroll county-wide payroll reflects a highly tight and specialized workforce.
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Overall, the county is prioritizing long-term economic vitality through workforce development, small business support and inclusive growth initiatives.
Contact Columbia County's labor economist
Ajsa Suljic, South Central / Southeast region
- Email Ajsa: ajsa.suljic@esd.wa.gov
- Call Ajsa: 509-734-5928
Columbia County is part of the Eastern Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Employment updates for July 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The July 2026 unemployment rate was 3.2% in Columbia County, 4.5% in Washington state and 4.4% in the United States.
| Measure | July 2026 | June 2026 | July 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 1,722 | 1,684 | 1,919 |
| Employed persons | 1,667 | 1,617 | 1,849 |
| Persons seeking work | 55 | 67 | 70 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 4.0% | 3.6% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Columbia County unemployment rate, January 2024 - July 2026
Columbia County’s unemployment rate is anchored in a very small agriculture and food processing centered economy. Seasonal hiring around planting and harvest is significant. This makes a month-by-month view especially sensitive to single firm events and the limitations of using a sample of cases to estimate the rates.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4.7% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 4.4% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 4.0% | 4.2% |
|
4.5% | 5.2% | 4.1% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 4.2% | 3.5% | N/A | 4.7% | 4.8% |
|
5.4% | 5.4% | 5.3% | 5.0% | 5.2% | 4.0% | 3.2% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS). BLS canceled October 2025's unemployment publications.
Key changes in payroll employment
This includes all employees with paid positions tracked in a company’s payroll system. This doesn’t include agriculture jobs or jobs outside of formal payroll such as freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals. Numbers in this section are estimates generated by a monthly survey.
In July 2026, Columbia County had 1,190 jobs.
Compared with June 2026, July employment increased by 10 jobs.
- 580 private jobs, which is unchanged.
- 170 goods-producing jobs, which is unchanged.
- 20 more service-providing jobs.
- 10 more government jobs.
- Retail trade was the only industry adding jobs over the month.
Compared with July 2025, this July’s employment was down by 30 (2.5%) jobs.
- 10 (1.7%) fewer private jobs.
- 10 (5.6%) fewer goods-producing jobs.
- 20 (1.9%) fewer service-providing jobs.
- 20 (3.2%) fewer government jobs.
- Retail trade along with transportation, warehousing and utilities led the growth over the year by adding 10 jobs each.
Employment estimates for Columbia County
See a snapshot of this month's data below. A detailed spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted is on the source page of our site.
Total jobs
| Industry sector | Jul. 2026 | Jun. 2026 | Jul. 2025 | Jun. 2026 to Jul. 2026 |
Jul. 2025 to Jul. 2026 |
Jul. 2025 to Jul. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 1,190 | 1,180 | 1,220 | 10 | -30 | -2.5% |
| - Private | 580 | 580 | 590 | 0 | -10 | -1.7% |
| - Government | 610 | 600 | 630 | 10 | -20 | -3.2% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry sector | Jul. 2026 | Jun. 2026 | Jul. 2025 | Jun. 2026 to Jul. 2026 |
Jul. 2025 to Jul. 2026 |
Jul. 2025 to Jul. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 170 | 170 | 180 | 0 | -10 | -5.6% |
| - Mining, Logging and Construction | 130 | 130 | 130 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Construction | 130 | 130 | 130 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Manufacturing | 40 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry sector | Jul. 2026 | Jun. 2026 | Jul. 2025 | Jun. 2026 to Jul. 2026 |
Jul. 2025 to Jul. 2026 |
Jul. 2025 to Jul. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 1,030 | 1,010 | 1,050 | 20 | -20 | -1.9% |
| - Wholesale trade | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Retail trade | 100 | 90 | 90 | 10 | 10 | 11.1% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 60 | 60 | 50 | 0 | 10 | 20.0% |
| - Information | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Financial activities | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 40 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Private education and health services | 60 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 100 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Other services | 30 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Government | 610 | 600 | 630 | 10 | -20 | -3.2% |
Note: Data benchmarked through March 2026, updated August 20, 2026. The current month’s data is preliminary. Analysts continue to refine past months as more related information becomes available. Industry columns use North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry titles. Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Employment details for industries and sectors
This profile section uses Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) data.
This quarterly census data includes both agricultural and nonagricultural employment and wages for firms, organizations and individuals with employees covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Covered employment refers to the total number of employees with this type of coverage.
Top sectors by employment
2024’s annual average was 1,503 total covered employees.
- Government - 611 jobs.
- Not classified elsewhere - 273 jobs.
- Construction - 128 jobs.
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting - 127 jobs.
- Retail trade - 98 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $66,819 for covered employees.
- Construction - $108,460.
- Real estate and rental and leasing - $94,341.
- Government - $64,603.
- Healthcare and social assistance - $60,090.
- Manufacturing - $48,998.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW
Workforce demographics in Columbia County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 3,343 | 54.9% | 3.9% |
| 16 to 19 years | 65 | 20.0% | 46.2% |
| 20 to 24 years | 220 | 88.2% | 6.2% |
| 25 to 29 years | 230 | 62.6% | 0.0% |
| 30 to 34 years | 147 | 91.8% | 11.1% |
| 35 to 44 years | 528 | 87.1% | 3.0% |
| 45 to 54 years | 369 | 68.3% | 0.0% |
| 55 to 59 years | 329 | 83.3% | 0.0% |
| 60 to 64 years | 278 | 63.7% | 12.4% |
| 65 to 74 years | 670 | 19.4% | 1.5% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 2,774 | 54.3% | 3.6% |
| Black or African American alone | 22 | 27.3% | 100.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 13 | 0.0% | - |
| Asian alone | 53 | 0.0% | - |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 0 | - | - |
| Some other race alone | 142 | 69.7% | 0.0% |
| Two or more races | 339 | 65.5% | 5.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 267 | 65.9% | 0.0% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 2,741 | 54.6% | 3.6% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 2,101 | 77.9% | 3.9% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 1,004 | 80.9% | 5.0% |
| Female | 1,097 | 75.1% | 2.7% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 299 | 82.6% | 0.0% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 74 | 79.7% | 0.0% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 10 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 215 | 82.8% | 0.0% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 237 | 8.0% | 0.0% |
| At or above the poverty level | 1,859 | 87.0% | 3.9% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 278 | 48.6% | 0.0% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 1,881 | 76.7% | 3.5% |
| Less than high school graduate | 226 | 55.8% | 0.0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 432 | 69.7% | 0.0% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 760 | 80.8% | 5.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 463 | 86.6% | 5.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024: ACS 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
Funding
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, expressed or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.