Clallam County profile

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

- Posted April 2025
 

March 2025 Highlights

In March, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 6.5% to 5.0% and total nonfarm employment increased by 390.

Summary

Clallam County has 29,853 workers in its labor force for March 2025. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.0%. The unemployment rate was 6.5% a month ago. Total nonfarm employment was 25,000 jobs, increasing 390 from March 2024 to March 2025 and increasing 250 over the month. Construction was up 40 jobs over the year and up 20 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 March 2025

Monthly labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.0% in March 2025, down from 5.7% last year and down from 6.5% last month.

  • The labor force changed a little at 29,853 workers, relative to 30,647 workers in March 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 March 2025.

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

Payroll employment in Clallam County

  • Total nonfarm employment was 25,000 jobs, increasing 390 from March 2024 to March 2025 and increasing 250 over the month.

  • Government employment was up 310 jobs over the year and up 90 jobs over the month. Over the year gains were primarily concentrated in local government with federal government losing 10 jobs.

  • Leisure and hospitality increased by 20 jobs over the year and increased by 30 jobs over the month.

  • Professional and business services decreased by 125 jobs over the year and increased by 20 jobs over the month.

  • Retail trade increased by 130 jobs over the year and increased by 30 jobs over the month.

  • Construction was up 40 jobs over the year and up 20 jobs over the month.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Clallam County

NAICS Industry Title Mar 2025 (Prelim) Feb 2025 (Revised) Mar 2024 (Revised) Feb 2025 to Mar 2025 Change Mar 2024 to Mar 2025 Change Mar 2024 to Mar 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 25,000 24,750 24,610 250 390 1.6%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 16,470 16,310 16,390 160 80 0.5%
Goods-producing 2,750 2,710 2,690 40 60 2.2%
- Mining and logging 380 370 400 10 -20 -5.0%
- Construction 1,270 1,250 1,230 10 -20 -1.6%
- Manufacturing 1,100 1,090 1,060 30 20 1.9%
Service-providing 22,250 22,040 21,920 210 330 1.5%
- Wholesale trade 350 360 360 -10 -10 -2.8%
- Retail trade 3,510 3,480 3,380 30 130 3.8%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 430 420 450 10 -20 -4.4%
- Information 160 160 160 0 0 0.0%
- Financial activities 650 650 650 0 0 0.0%
- Professional and business services 1,890 1,870 1,810 20 80 4.4%
- Private education and health services 3,220 3,200 3,370 20 -150 -4.5%
- Leisure and hospitality 2,680 2,650 2,660 30 20 0.8%
- Other services 840 820 850 20 -10 -1.2%
- Government 8,530 8,440 8,220 90 310 3.8%

Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024updated April 17, 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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