Kitsap County profile

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

- Posted June 2025

May 2025 highlights

In May, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased up to 4.0% from 3.7% in April. Total nonfarm employment dropped by 2,000 jobs compared to May 2024.

Summary

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.0% in May 2025, up from 3.7% in April 2025 and down 4.3% in May 2024. Kitsap County’s labor force had an estimated 118,691 workers in May 2025. Total nonfarm employment, at 94,900 jobs, was 500 jobs below last month and was 2,000 jobs below last year.

Location

A dark blue map of Washington state with Kitsap County highlighted in orange.

 

Kitsap County is the northern end of the Kitsap Peninsula, jutting into the Puget Sound between the Olympic Peninsula to the west and King County to the east. It is between Hood Canal and Admiralty Strait. Water transportation is dominant in the culture and economy.  The county seat is Port Orchard.

Kitsap County is one of the smallest counties in the state in terms of land area at about 395 square miles. It ranks third, however, in the state in terms of its population density, with 750 people per square mile.

Kitsap County is synonymous with the Bremerton-Silverdale Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Kitsap 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 May 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.0% in May 2025, up from 3.7% in April 2025 and down to 4.3% in May 2024.

  • The labor force estimated was 118,691 workers, down 3,632 workers compared to May 2024 and down 581 over the month.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and Kitsap County from January 2014 to May 2025.

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

Payroll employment

  • Total nonfarm employment was estimated at 94,900 in May 2025, lower by 2,000 jobs from May 2024 and 500 below last month.

  • Goods producing industry employment was up 100 jobs over the month and down 300 jobs over the year.

  • Service providing industry jobs were down by 600 jobs over the month and down 1,700 jobs over the year.

  • Professional and business services jobs were unchanged over the month, however declined by 600 jobs over the year.

  • Leisure and hospitality gained 300 jobs since April; however, the industry is 400 jobs below a year ago.

  • Federal government jobs declined by 700 jobs over the month and were down 400 jobs below last year.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Kitsap County

NAICS Industry Title May 2025 (Prelim) Apr 2025 (Revised) May 2024 (Revised) Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change May 2024 to May 2025 Change May 2024 to May 2025 % Change
NAICS Industry Title Total nonfarm May 2025 (Prelim) 94,900 Apr 2025 (Revised) 95,400 May 2024 (Revised) 96,900 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change -500 May 2024 to May 2025 Change -2,000 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change -2.1%
NAICS Industry Title Total private (total nonfarm less government) May 2025 (Prelim) 60,200 Apr 2025 (Revised) 60,000 May 2024 (Revised) 61,700 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change 200 May 2024 to May 2025 Change -1,500 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change -2.4%
NAICS Industry Title Goods-producing May 2025 (Prelim) 7,200 Apr 2025 (Revised) 7,100 May 2024 (Revised) 7,500 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change 100 May 2024 to May 2025 Change -300 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change -4.0%
NAICS Industry Title - Mining, logging and construction May 2025 (Prelim) 4,400 Apr 2025 (Revised) 4,300 May 2024 (Revised) 4,900 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change 100 May 2024 to May 2025 Change -500 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change -10.2%
NAICS Industry Title - Manufacturing May 2025 (Prelim) 2,800 Apr 2025 (Revised) 2,800 May 2024 (Revised) 2,600 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change 0 May 2024 to May 2025 Change 200 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change 7.7%
NAICS Industry Title Service-providing May 2025 (Prelim) 87,700 Apr 2025 (Revised) 88,300 May 2024 (Revised) 89,400 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change -600 May 2024 to May 2025 Change -1,700 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change -1.9%
NAICS Industry Title - Trade, transportation, and utilities May 2025 (Prelim) 13,000 Apr 2025 (Revised) 13,300 May 2024 (Revised) 13,400 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change -300 May 2024 to May 2025 Change -400 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change -3.0%
NAICS Industry Title - - Retail trade May 2025 (Prelim) 10,600 Apr 2025 (Revised) 10,700 May 2024 (Revised) 10,800 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change -100 May 2024 to May 2025 Change -200 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change -1.9%
NAICS Industry Title - Professional and business services May 2025 (Prelim) 9,100 Apr 2025 (Revised) 9,100 May 2024 (Revised) 9,700 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change 0 May 2024 to May 2025 Change -600 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change -6.2%
NAICS Industry Title - Leisure and hospitality May 2025 (Prelim) 9,500 Apr 2025 (Revised) 9,200 May 2024 (Revised) 9,900 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change 300 May 2024 to May 2025 Change -400 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change -4.0%
NAICS Industry Title - Government May 2025 (Prelim) 34,700 Apr 2025 (Revised) 35,400 May 2024 (Revised) 35,200 Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change -700 May 2024 to May 2025 Change -500 May 2024 to May 2025 % Change -1.4%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024, updated June 18, 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)

Employment by industry, Kitsap County 2023 annual average

A bar graph showing the 2023 annual average industry employment in Kitsap County.

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)

Average annual covered employment in Kitsap County was 93,040 in 2023. Covered employment refers to state workers covered by state unemployment insurance (UI) laws and federal workers covered by federal unemployment compensation program.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Government (33,850)

  • Health care and social assistance (12,227)

  • Retail trade (10,803)

  • Accommodation and food services (8,413)

  • Professional, scientific and technical services (5,615)

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 Kitsap County for all industries was $67,613 in 2023.

Top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

  • Information ($128,317)

  • Utilities ($124,893)

  • Management of companies and enterprises ($99,098)

  • Professional, scientific and technical services ($97,273)

  • Finance and insurance ($90,796) 

Workforce demographics in Kitsap County

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic Population 16 years and over Total 227,461 Labor force participation rate 61.9% Unemployment rate 4.8%
Demographic characteristic 16 to 19 years Total 11,552 Labor force participation rate 44.0% Unemployment rate 18.9%
Demographic characteristic 20 to 24 years Total 19,485 Labor force participation rate 89.5% Unemployment rate 8.2%
Demographic characteristic 25 to 29 years Total 19,980 Labor force participation rate 82.9% Unemployment rate 5.0%
Demographic characteristic 30 to 34 years Total 20,072 Labor force participation rate 81.0% Unemployment rate 4.6%
Demographic characteristic 35 to 44 years Total 36,023 Labor force participation rate 83.1% Unemployment rate 3.9%
Demographic characteristic 45 to 54 years Total 30,759 Labor force participation rate 78.7% Unemployment rate 3.0%
Demographic characteristic 55 to 59 years Total 18,392 Labor force participation rate 72.2% Unemployment rate 3.4%
Demographic characteristic 60 to 64 years Total 18,333 Labor force participation rate 54.6% Unemployment rate 3.0%
Demographic characteristic 65 to 74 years Total 32,537 Labor force participation rate 20.7% Unemployment rate 5.9%
Demographic characteristic 75 years and over Total 20,328 Labor force participation rate 6.3% Unemployment rate 1.5%

Race or Hispanic origin

White alone 178,473 60.4% 4.6%
White alone Black or African American alone 178,473 5,853 60.4% 70.9% 4.6% 1.9%
White alone American Indian and Alaska Native alone 178,473 2,276 60.4% 63.8% 4.6% 4.4%
White alone Asian alone 178,473 11,795 60.4% 61.7% 4.6% 4.0%
White alone Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 178,473 1,976 60.4% 57.7% 4.6% 4.5%
White alone Some other race alone 178,473 5,523 60.4% 74.2% 4.6% 5.0%
White alone Two or more races 178,473 21,565 60.4% 69.1% 4.6% 7.8%
White alone Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 178,473 17,894 60.4% 71.6% 4.6% 5.7%
White alone White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 178,473 172,926 60.4% 59.8% 4.6% 4.6%
White alone Population 20 to 64 years 178,473 163,044 60.4% 78.3% 4.6% 4.2%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic Male Total 86,143 Labor force participation rate 86.2% Unemployment rate 4.2%
Demographic characteristic Female Total 76,901 Labor force participation rate 69.5% Unemployment rate 4.3%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic With own children under 18 Total 26,645 Labor force participation rate 65.8% Unemployment rate 3.4%
Demographic characteristic With own children under 6 only Total 7,524 Labor force participation rate 59.8% Unemployment rate 3.6%
Demographic characteristic With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 Total 4,940 Labor force participation rate 56.8% Unemployment rate 5.1%
Demographic characteristic With own children 6 to 17 only Total 14,181 Labor force participation rate 72.2% Unemployment rate 2.8%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic Below poverty level Total 13,119 Labor force participation rate 42.1% Unemployment rate 19.1%
Demographic characteristic At or above the poverty level Total 145,050 Labor force participation rate 81.2% Unemployment rate 3.5%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic With any disability Total 18,965 Labor force participation rate 50.3% Unemployment rate 10.6%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic Population 25 to 64 years Total 143,559 Labor force participation rate 76.8% Unemployment rate 3.8%
Demographic characteristic Less than high school graduate Total 6,862 Labor force participation rate 56.5% Unemployment rate 8.4%
Demographic characteristic High school graduate (includes equivalency) Total 31,765 Labor force participation rate 71.0% Unemployment rate 6.5%
Demographic characteristic Some college or associate's degree Total 54,335 Labor force participation rate 76.9% Unemployment rate 3.0%
Demographic characteristic Bachelor's degree or higher Total 50,597 Labor force participation rate 83.0% Unemployment rate 2.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status

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