Kittitas County profile

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

 

Posted March 2025

Summary

The county has 27,585 workers in the labor force. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9% with 26,247 jobs during January 2025. Total average annual covered employment during 2023 was 16,780 jobs. Total nonfarm employment during January 2025 was 17,920, a decrease of 320 jobs from January 2024 and a decrease of 110 jobs from December 2024. The government makes up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 4,557 out of 16,780 total annual average employment. The government sector decreased by 20 over the year and decreased 50 jobs from December 2024, with 10 of those jobs in the federal subsector.  The county has 1,379 establishments employing workers covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Kittitas County’s 16 and older population was 37,765 in 2023.

Geography

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

 

Kittitas County is in the center of the state, 107 miles east of Seattle. It is nestled between the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Columbia River to the east. With 2,297.3 square miles, it is the eighth largest county in Washington by land area.

Employment situation for January 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • From January 2024 to January 2025, the Kittitas County labor force increased by 4,137 to 27,585 workers.

  • The January 2025 not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Kittitas County was 4.9%, down 0.8% from 5.7% during January 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

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

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

Payroll employment

Total nonfarm employment during January 2025 was 17,920, a decrease of 320 jobs from January 2024 and a decrease of 110 jobs from December 2024.

  • Wholesale trade increased by 20 jobs from January 2024 and increased 50 jobs from December 2024.

  • Information and financial activities increased 2#0 jobs from January 2024 and was unchanged from December 2024.

  • Leisure and hospitality decreased 320 jobs (mainly in arts, entertainment and recreation) from January 2024 and increased 10 jobs from December 2024.

  • Retail trade was unchanged from January 2024 and increased 30 jobs from December 2024.

  • The government sector decreased by 20 over the year and decreased 50 jobs from December 2024.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Kittitas 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 17,920 18,030 18,240 -110 -320 -1.8%
--Total private 11,590 11,640 11,880 -50 -290 -2.4%
---Goods-producing 1,890 1,970 1,900 -80 -10 -0.5%
-----Mining, Logging and Construction 1,270 1,320 1,300 -50 -30 -2.3%
-----Construction 1,260 1,310 1,270 -50 -10 -0.8%
-----Manufacturing 610 640 600 -30 10 1.7%
---Service-providing 16,040 16,060 16,340 -20 -300 -1.8%
-----Trade, transportation, and utilities 2,740 2,650 2,700 90 40 1.5%
-------Wholesale Trade 580 530 560 50 20 3.6%
-------Retail trade 1,840 1,810 1,840 30 0 0.0%
-------Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities 320 320 300 0 20 6.7%
-----Information 160 170 140 -10 20 14.3%
-----Financial activities 550 550 590 0 -40 -6.8%
-----Professional and business services 800 780 760 20 40 5.3%
-------Health care and social assistance 1,360 1,390 1,400 -30 -40 -2.9%
-----Leisure and hospitality 3,320 3,360 3,640 -40 -320 -8.8%
-----Government 6,340 6,390 6,360 -50 -20 -0.3%
-------Federal 140 150 140 -10 0 0.0%
-------State government 3,530 3,540 3,540 -10 -10 -0.3%
---------State government education 3,210 3,220 3,220 -10 -10 -0.3%
-------Local government 2,670 2,700 2,680 -30 -10 -0.4%
---------Local government education 1,080 1,130 1,030 -50 50 4.9%

Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024updated 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, Kittitas County 2023 annual average

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

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

Covered employment, or Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) data, include agricultural and nonagricultural employment and wages for firms, organizations and individuals whose employees are covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Covered employment generally exceeds 85% of total employment in the state of Washington. Average annual covered employment in 2023 in Kittitas County was 16,780. The average annual wage was $51,268 which was 58.9% of Washington state’s average annual wage of $87,091.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Government (4,557 jobs)
  • Accommodation and food services (2,498 jobs)
  • Retail trade (1,871 jobs)
  • Construction (1,355 jobs)
  • State government (1,777 jobs)
  • Health care and social assistance (1,346)

Top sectors in terms of total wages paid in 2023:

  • Government ($315.3 million)
  • Construction ($90.5 million)
  • Accommodation and food services ($74.3 million)
  • Retail trade ($65.8 million)
  • Health care and social assistance ($60.3 million)

Workforce demographics in Kittitas County

Kittitas County’s 16 and older population was 37,765 in 2023. The labor force participation rate in Kittitas County was 61.4% with an average unemployment rate of 5.1%.

Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Kittitas County.

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 37,765 61.4% 5.1%
16 to 19 years 3,452 50.6% 23.6%
20 to 24 years 5,037 73.2% 8.3%
25 to 29 years 3,041 88.0% 5.4%
30 to 34 years 2,610 85.1% 1.9%
35 to 44 years 4,899 78.3% 2.4%
45 to 54 years 5,039 81.3% 0.7%
55 to 59 years 2,510 74.1% 3.2%
60 to 64 years 3,486 48.5% 3.9%
65 to 74 years 4,768 26.4% 2.4%
75 years and over 2,923 3.6% 9.6%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 31,768 60.1% 4.6%
Black or African American alone 472 68.0% 9.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 185 55.1% 0.0%
Asian alone 656 56.3% 1.1%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 48 56.3% 0.0%
Some other race alone 1,946 72.9% 3.8%
Two or more races 2,690 68.4% 12.3%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 3,398 72.0% 5.1%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 30,812 60.2% 4.5%
Population 20 to 64 years 26,622 75.4% 3.7%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 13,518 79.3% 4.4%
Female 13,104 71.3% 2.8%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 3,954 68.8% 0.7%
With own children under 6 only 784 73.0% 3.1%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 489 58.9% 0.0%
With own children 6 to 17 only 2,681 69.4% 0.0%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 3,953 44.5% 11.8%
At or above the poverty level 22,078 81.8% 2.7%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 3,047 46.6% 10.8%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 21,585 75.9% 2.6%
Less than high school graduate 1,654 57.4% 5.3%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 5,804 74.0% 2.7%
Some college or associate's degree 6,167 70.6% 2.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher 7,960 85.2% 2.6%

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

This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, expressed or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.