Posted March 2025
Summary
Grant County has a labor supply of 38,415 workers as of January 2025. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 8.9%. Government jobs were up 220 over the year, mainly in the local government subsector. Federal government jobs decreased 10 over the year and 20 over the month. Agriculture, forestry and fishing make up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 8,187 out of 45,448 total annual average employment. The county has 2,495 establishments employing an annual average of 33,900 workers, covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act during January 2024. Grant County’s 16 and older population was 75,012 in 2023.
Geography
Grant County is in central Washington. The county has a large lake where it’s largest city, Moses Lake, surrounds it and takes the name.
Employment situation for January 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Grant County was 8.9% during January 2025, up 1.3% from 7.6% in January 2024.
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The January 2025 labor force was 38,415 workers.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment
Nonfarm employment in Grant County was 34,000 in January 2025, an increase of 870 jobs from January 2024 and a decrease of 450 jobs from December 2024.
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Manufacturing increased by 10 jobs from January 2024 to January 2025 and increased 40 jobs from December 2024.
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Construction increased by 130 jobs from January 2024 to January 2025 and decreased 100 jobs from December 2024.
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Retail trade increased by 100 jobs from January 2024 to January 2025 and decreased 90 jobs from December 2024.
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Professional and business services decreased 70 jobs from January 2024 to January 2025 and decreased 30 jobs from December 2024.
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Leisure and hospitality accommodation and food services increased 180 jobs from January 2024 to January 2025 and decreased 190 jobs from December 2024.
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The government sector gained 220 jobs over the year and lost 10 jobs from December 2024. The job gains were mainly in local government at 210 jobs gained. The federal government shrank by 10 jobs.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Grant 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 | 34,000 | 34,450 | 33,130 | -450 | 870 | 2.6% |
| --Total private | 24,930 | 25,370 | 24,280 | -440 | 650 | 2.7% |
| ---Goods-producing | 6,480 | 6,540 | 6,340 | -60 | 140 | 2.2% |
| -----Mining, Logging and Construction | 2,050 | 2,150 | 1,920 | -100 | 130 | 6.8% |
| -----Manufacturing | 4,430 | 4,390 | 4,420 | 40 | 10 | 0.2% |
| -------Durable goods | 1,520 | 1,530 | 1,620 | -10 | -100 | -6.2% |
| -------Nondurable goods | 2,900 | 2,850 | 2,790 | 50 | 110 | 3.9% |
| ---Service-providing | 27,520 | 27,910 | 26,780 | -390 | 740 | 2.8% |
| -----Trade, transportation, and utilities | 6,890 | 6,940 | 6,600 | -50 | 290 | 4.4% |
| -------Wholesale Trade | 2,090 | 2,060 | 2,010 | 30 | 80 | 4.0% |
| -------Retail trade | 3,560 | 3,650 | 3,460 | -90 | 100 | 2.9% |
| -------Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 1,240 | 1,220 | 1,130 | 20 | 110 | 9.7% |
| -----Information | 650 | 700 | 670 | -50 | -20 | -3.0% |
| -----Financial activities | 770 | 760 | 790 | 10 | -20 | -2.5% |
| -----Professional and business services | 3,010 | 3,040 | 3,080 | -30 | -70 | -2.3% |
| -----Private education and health services | 3,510 | 3,570 | 3,330 | -60 | 180 | 5.4% |
| -----Leisure and hospitality | 3,030 | 3,220 | 2,850 | -190 | 180 | 6.3% |
| -----Government | 9,070 | 9,080 | 8,850 | -10 | 220 | 2.5% |
| -------Federal | 710 | 730 | 720 | -20 | -10 | -1.4% |
| -------State government | 670 | 660 | 650 | 10 | 20 | 3.1% |
| ---------State government education | 320 | 310 | 300 | 10 | 20 | 6.7% |
| -------Local government | 7,690 | 7,690 | 7,480 | 0 | 210 | 2.8% |
| ---------Local government education | 3,580 | 3,600 | 3,670 | -20 | -90 | -2.5% |
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)
Employment by industry, Grant County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing (8,976 jobs)
- Local government (7,364 jobs)
- Manufacturing (4,532 jobs)
- Retail trade (3,538 jobs)
- Health services (3,114 jobs)
Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Grant County was $60,334, which was 69.3% of Washington state’s average annual wage of $87,091.
Top five sectors in terms of wages/payroll in 2023:
- Local government ($523.8 million)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing ($352.9 million)
- Manufacturing ($312.0 million)
- Professional and business services ($236.1 million)
- Wholesale trade ($177.4 million)
Workforce demographics for Grant County
Grant County’s 16 and older population was 75,012 in 2023. The labor force participation rate in Grant County was 63.3% with an average unemployment rate of 6.9%.
Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Grant County.
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 75,012 | 62.6% | 6.3% |
| 16 to 19 years | 6,418 | 44.4% | 12.3% |
| 20 to 24 years | 6,605 | 77.7% | 14.2% |
| 25 to 29 years | 6,945 | 82.4% | 4.0% |
| 30 to 34 years | 6,781 | 78.9% | 2.9% |
| 35 to 44 years | 12,116 | 81.8% | 4.2% |
| 45 to 54 years | 10,846 | 81.3% | 5.4% |
| 55 to 59 years | 5,289 | 71.8% | 8.9% |
| 60 to 64 years | 5,619 | 53.4% | 7.0% |
| 65 to 74 years | 8,714 | 22.4% | 3.3% |
| 75 years and over | 5,679 | 7.7% | 0.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 46,100 | 57.3% | 5.7% |
| Black or African American alone | 903 | 55.5% | 8.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 1,239 | 67.2% | 10.5% |
| Asian alone | 946 | 78.4% | 15.2% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 18 | 27.8% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 15,352 | 73.1% | 6.0% |
| Two or more races | 10,454 | 69.4% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 28,585 | 74.0% | 6.5% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 41,058 | 55.4% | 6.0% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 54,201 | 77.0% | 6.1% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 28,198 | 82.6% | 6.4% |
| Female | 26,003 | 70.9% | 5.7% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 10,978 | 73.0% | 3.9% |
| With own children under 6 only | 1,928 | 67.6% | 1.5% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 3,457 | 65.5% | 5.6% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 5,593 | 79.5% | 3.8% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 7,811 | 50.2% | 20.8% |
| At or above the poverty level | 46,207 | 81.8% | 4.6% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 6,934 | 43.6% | 10.7% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 47,596 | 76.9% | 5.0% |
| Less than high school graduate | 9,348 | 72.8% | 5.5% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 13,532 | 74.0% | 4.7% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 15,901 | 77.1% | 3.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8,815 | 85.2% | 8.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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