Posted February 2025
Summary
Grays Harbor County is a scenic, largely rural area, owing to its location on the Pacific Ocean. Historically its major industries were in timber and fishing. While manufacturing continues to be a major industry, including seafood production, the county’s economy has shifted toward services. Tourism has also played a major role in recent years.
Local government is the largest sector, followed by health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, retail trade, and manufacturing.
Compared to the statewide average, Grays Harbor County tends to have higher unemployment and lower average wages. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate hit a high of 20.8%. While unemployment has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, Grays Harbor consistently has one of the highest unemployment rates among Washington’s 39 counties.
Location
Grays Harbor County is located along the Pacific Ocean in western Washington. The county is bordered by Jefferson County to the north, Mason and Thurston counties to the east, and Pacific and Lewis counties to the south. The largest city is Aberdeen, and the county makes up the Aberdeen Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Grays Harbor County is part of the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 workforce regions.
Employment situation for December 2024
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.1% in December 2024, up from 6.8% in the previous month and down from 7.3% in December 2023.
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The total civilian labor force was 27,456, down slightly from 29,159 in December 2023.
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The number of unemployed persons was 1,961, down from 2,123 in December 2023.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment
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Total nonfarm employment was 23,480 in December 2024, not seasonally adjusted. This was up by 140 jobs from the previous month and up 150 jobs (0.6%) from December 2023.
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Over the year, employment increased in five industries, decreased in four industries, and was unchanged in one industry.
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The largest year over year increase was in government (160 jobs), followed by leisure and hospitality (100 jobs) and retail trade (70 jobs).
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The largest year over year decreases were in manufacturing (down 80 jobs) and education and health services (down 70 jobs).
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Grays Harbor County
| NAICS Industry Title | Dec 2024 (Preliminary) | Nov 2024 (Revised) | Dec 2023 (Revised) | Nov 2024 to Dec 2024 change | Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 change | Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Nonfarm | 23,480 | 23,340 | 23,330 | 140 | 150 | 0.6% |
| Total Private | 16,390 | 16,280 | 16,400 | 110 | -10 | -0.1% |
| Goods Producing | 3,950 | 4,000 | 3,990 | -50 | -40 | -1.0% |
| ---Mining, Logging, and Construction | 1,610 | 1,590 | 1,570 | 20 | 40 | 2.5% |
| ---Manufacturing | 2,340 | 2,410 | 2,420 | -70 | -80 | -3.3% |
| -------Durable Goods | 1,550 | 1,550 | 1,610 | 0 | -60 | -3.7% |
| -------Nondurable Goods | 790 | 860 | 810 | -70 | -20 | -2.5% |
| Service Providing | 19,530 | 19,340 | 19,340 | 190 | 190 | 1.0% |
| ---Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 3,740 | 3,680 | 3,700 | 60 | 40 | 1.1% |
| -------Wholesale Trade | 520 | 520 | 520 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------Retail Trade | 2660 | 2620 | 2590 | 40 | 70 | 2.7% |
| -------Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 560 | 540 | 590 | 20 | -30 | -5.1% |
| ---Information and Financial Activities | 850 | 850 | 810 | 0 | 40 | 4.9% |
| ---Professional and Business Services | 1,290 | 1,280 | 1,310 | 10 | -20 | -1.5% |
| ---Education and Health Services | 3,100 | 3,090 | 3,170 | 10 | -70 | -2.2% |
| ---Leisure and Hospitality | 2,790 | 2,710 | 2,690 | 80 | 100 | 3.7% |
| ---Government | 7,090 | 7,060 | 6,930 | 30 | 160 | 2.3% |
| -------Federal Government | 180 | 190 | 180 | -10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------State and Local Government | 6,910 | 6,870 | 6,750 | 40 | 160 | 2.4% |
| -----------State and Local Government Education | 2,500 | 2,490 | 2,340 | 10 | 160 | 6.8% |
Note: Data benchmarked through June 2024, updated Jan. 16, 2025. Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Industry employment (covered employment)
Once a center for forestry and other goods producing sectors, the economy in Grays Harbor County has shifted towards services. Local government is the largest source of employment. In the private sector, the next largest major industries are split evenly between health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, retail trade, and manufacturing.
Employment by industry, Grays Harbor County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Grays Harbor County was 23,424 and the average annual wage was $53,952 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.
Top five sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
- Government (6,568)
- Health care and social assistance (2,981)
- Accommodation and food services (2,664)
- Retail trade (2,595)
- Manufacturing (2,560)
High-wage industries in Grays Harbor County tend to be smaller, except for transportation and warehousing (450). Top five sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
- Utilities ($114,496)
- Transportation and warehousing ($84,659)
- Information ($77,995)
- Management of companies and enterprises ($77,006)
- Professional, scientific, and technical services ($71,379)
Workforce demographics for Grays Harbor County
Grays Harbor County’s working age (16 and over) population is just under 63,000. The labor force participation rate is 50.9%, lower than the state average. Among the population aged 20 to 64, men and women have similar rates of labor force participation (66.2% and 69.2%) and unemployment (6.9% and 6.5%). Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for quick facts about Grays Harbor County.
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 62,918 | 50.9% | 6.6% |
| 16 to 19 years | 3,388 | 31.4% | 16.3% |
| 20 to 24 years | 3,529 | 76.7% | 6.2% |
| 25 to 29 years | 4,287 | 73.7% | 6.6% |
| 30 to 34 years | 4,641 | 76.5% | 12.1% |
| 35 to 44 years | 9,176 | 68.1% | 8.1% |
| 45 to 54 years | 8,948 | 71.8% | 4.9% |
| 55 to 59 years | 5,231 | 61.4% | 4.0% |
| 60 to 64 years | 6,280 | 50.2% | 4.5% |
| 65 to 74 years | 11,104 | 18.5% | 1.8% |
| 75 years and over | 6,334 | 7.3% | 1.9% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 52,516 | 49.8% | 6.8% |
| Black or African American alone | 1,030 | 18.0% | 12.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 2,448 | 47.9% | 5.6% |
| Asian alone | 826 | 64.9% | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 309 | 60.5% | 3.2% |
| Some other race alone | 1,537 | 74.2% | 2.6% |
| Two or more races | 4,252 | 62.2% | 7.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 5,124 | 66.4% | 6.7% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 50,651 | 49.4% | 6.6% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 42,092 | 67.6% | 6.7% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 22,421 | 66.2% | 6.9% |
| Female | 19,671 | 69.2% | 6.5% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 6,046 | 73.4% | 6.4% |
| With own children under 6 only | 1,220 | 73.2% | 13.0% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 1,357 | 65.5% | 0.4% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 3,469 | 76.5% | 6.2% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 5,481 | 38.6% | 29.7% |
| At or above the poverty level | 34,332 | 76.7% | 4.8% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 7,162 | 39.2% | 15.6% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 38,563 | 66.8% | 6.7% |
| Less than high school graduate | 4,146 | 61.9% | 13.7% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 13,747 | 57.6% | 10.5% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 14,388 | 70.8% | 4.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6,282 | 80.8% | 2.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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