Summary
Clallam County non-farm employment dipped by 200 between December 2024 in January 2025 with the release of the January preliminary 2025 data.
January preliminary data showed good producing employment dropping by 50 between December and January in service providing employment declining by 160. In goods producing, construction was down 20 jobs, and manufacturing was down 30 jobs. In service providing employment private education and health services declined by 80 jobs over the month as retail trade dropped any jobs between December and January. Over this same time span the government sector gained 30 jobs and leisure and hospitality was up 30 jobs.
Over the year goods producing employment increased by 30 jobs while service providing employment gained 500 jobs and between January 2024 and January 2025. Goods producing saw most of the gain of 30 jobs in manufacturing. In service providing the big gainers for government which is up 350 jobs over the year and leisure and hospitality which increased employment by 190. The largest over the year drop occurred in private education and health services which declined by 110 jobs over the year.
We're still in the grips of winter, look for Clallam County nonfarm employment to remain fairly stable with small seasonal declines until we get to the spring thaw.
Unemployment in Clallam County increased to 6% with the January preliminary data up from 5.6 in December 2024 and unchanged from January 2024. The January 2025 preliminary data counted 28,627 county residents gainfully employed; this compares to the January 2024 number of 28,542 employed.
Location
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 January 2025
Monthly labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.0% in January 2025, up from 5.6% in December and unchanged from January 2024.
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The labor force changed little at 30,443 relative 30,356 in January 2024.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment in Clallam County
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Total nonfarm employment remained unchanged from December 2024 to January 2025.
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Employment increased in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and manufacturing from December 2024 to January 2025. Employment decreased in construction, government and trade transportation and utilities (including retail trade) over the same time.
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From January 2024 to January 2025, total nonfarm employment expanded by 410 jobs.
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Overall, the largest gains were posted in government, leisure and hospitality and professional business services.
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Employment in education and health services suffered the largest loss from January 2024 to January 2025.
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The winter months will impact nonfarm employment, as job growth in Clallam County is highly seasonal; we will see smaller gains moving forward.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Clallam County
| NAICS Industry Title | Jan 2025 (Preliminary) | Dec 2024 (Revised) | Jan 2024 (Revised) | Dec 2024 to Jan 2025 change | Jan 2024 to Jan 2025 change | Jan 2024 to Jan 2025 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 24,690 | 24,890 | 24,070 | -200 | 620 | 2.6% |
| --Total private | 16,230 | 16,460 | 15,960 | -230 | 270 | 1.7% |
| ---Goods-producing | 2,680 | 2,730 | 2,650 | -50 | 30 | 1.1% |
| -----Mining and logging | 370 | 370 | 390 | 0 | -20 | -5.1% |
| -----Mining, Logging and Construction | 1,590 | 1,610 | 1,590 | -20 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -----Construction | 1,220 | 1,240 | 1,200 | -20 | 20 | 1.7% |
| -----Manufacturing | 1,090 | 1,120 | 1,060 | -30 | 30 | 2.8% |
| -------Durable goods | 760 | 780 | 730 | -20 | 30 | 4.1% |
| -------Nondurable goods | 340 | 340 | 330 | 0 | 10 | 3.0% |
| ---Service-providing | 22,000 | 22,160 | 21,420 | -160 | 580 | 2.7% |
| -----Trade, transportation, and utilities | 4,210 | 4,290 | 4,140 | -80 | 70 | 1.7% |
| -------Wholesale Trade | 340 | 340 | 350 | 0 | -10 | -2.9% |
| -------Retail trade | 3,430 | 3,500 | 3,360 | -70 | 70 | 2.1% |
| -------Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 440 | 450 | 440 | -10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -----Information | 180 | 180 | 160 | 0 | 20 | 12.5% |
| -----Financial activities | 640 | 660 | 660 | -20 | -20 | -3.0% |
| -----Professional and business services | 1,860 | 1,890 | 1,730 | -30 | 130 | 7.5% |
| -----Private education and health services | 3,120 | 3,200 | 3,230 | -80 | -110 | -3.4% |
| -----Leisure and hospitality | 2,740 | 2,710 | 2,550 | 30 | 190 | 7.5% |
| -----Other services | 800 | 800 | 840 | 0 | -40 | -4.8% |
| -----Government | 8,460 | 8,430 | 8,110 | 30 | 350 | 4.3% |
| -------Federal government | 380 | 410 | 380 | -30 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------State government | 1,180 | 1,140 | 1,130 | 40 | 50 | 4.4% |
| ---------State government education | 420 | 390 | 380 | 30 | 40 | 10.5% |
| -------Local government | 6,900 | 6,870 | 6,600 | 30 | 300 | 4.5% |
| ---------Local government education | 1,590 | 1,600 | 1,510 | -10 | 80 | 5.3% |
Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024, updated March 17, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Industry employment (covered employment) in Clallam County
Employment by industry, Clallam County 2023 annual average
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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