Snohomish County profile

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

- Posted May 2025
 

April 2025 Highlights

In April, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped by 0.1% to 4.3% over the month and total nonfarm employment decreased by 1,800 jobs over the month.

Summary

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.1% to 4.3% in April 2025. One year ago, the unemployment rate was 3.9%. The labor force in Snohomish County consisted of 466,544 workers in April and increased by 120 workers over the year. Nonfarm employment in Snohomish County decreased by 4,500 jobs over the year and by 1,800 jobs over the month.

Location

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

 

Snohomish County is situated between northern Puget Sound to the west and the crest line of the North Cascade Range to the east. It shares its northern border with rural Skagit County and its south border with King County. Snohomish County is separated from Camano Island (part of Island County) by Davis Slough. The highest point in Snohomish County is Granite Peak (10,541 feet).

The county ranks 13th statewide in terms of total land area (2,087.3 square miles). The geographic distribution of population, economic activity and land use in Snohomish County is diverse, with a mix of rural and urban zones. Population centers are oriented south near the border with King County and west along Interstate 5. By contrast, north and east Snohomish County is characterized by smaller towns and cities, farmland and reservations.

Snohomish County is part of the three-county Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA and part of the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett Metropolitan Division. Snohomish County is the only county in the Snohomish Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.

Employment situation for April 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3% in April 2025, down from 4.4% reported in March and up from 3.9% one year ago.

  • The labor force had 466,544 workers in April. This is up by 120 participants over the year.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

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

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

Payroll employment

  • Nonfarm employment in Snohomish County decreased over the year by 4,500, bringing total estimated employment to 300,900 jobs in April 2025.

  • Over the month, total nonfarm employment decreased by 1,800.

  • Aerospace product and part manufacturing declined by 2,900 jobs over the year and is down 1,100 jobs over the month.

  • Retail trade was up 600 jobs over the year, however declined by 100 jobs over the month.

  • Financial activities declined by 1,700 jobs over the year and by 300 jobs over the month.

  • Private education and health services increased by 3,400 jobs over the year and increased by 1,200 jobs over the month.

  • Leisure and hospitality added 1,800 jobs over the year and 1,300 jobs over the month.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Snohomish County

NAICS Industry Title Apr 2025 (Prelim) Mar 2025 (Revised) Apr 2024 (Revised) Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 300,900 299,100 305,400 1,800 -4,500 -1.5%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 259,000 257,200 263,700 1,800 -4,700 -1.8%
Goods-producing 77,200 78,100 83,800 -900 -6,600 -7.9%
- Mining, logging and construction 24,200 23,700 26,600 500 -2,400 -9.0%
- Manufacturing 53,000 54,400 57,200 -1,400 -4,200 -7.3%
Service-providing 223,700 221,000 221,600 2,700 2,100 0.9%
- Wholesale trade 9,700 9,600 9,400 100 300 3.2%
- Retail trade 35,400 35,500 34,800 -100 600 1.7%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 7,400 7,300 7,500 100 -100 -1.3%
- Information 3,000 3,000 3,600 0 -600 -16.7%
- Financial activities 11,100 11,400 12,800 -300 -1,700 -13.3%
- Professional and business services 33,100 33,000 32,900 100 200 0.6%
- Private education and health services 43,100 41,900 39,700 1,200 3,400 8.6%
- Leisure and hospitality 30,400 29,100 28,600 1,300 1,800 6.3%
- Other services 7,900 7,400 10,600 500 -2,700 -25.5%
- Government 41,900 41,900 41,700 0 200 0.5%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024updated May 16, 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, Snohomish County 2023 annual average

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

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

Average annual covered employment in Snohomish County was 292,630 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 Snohomish County was $78,847 in 2023.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Manufacturing (53,867)

  • Government (39,957)

  • Health care and social assistance (35,347)

  • Retail trade (34,582)

  • Construction (25,369)

Top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

  • Professional, scientific, and technical services ($163,426)

  • Information ($122,763)

  • Manufacturing ($115,679)

  • Utilities ($107,011)

  • Finance and insurance ($105,848)

Workforce demographics in Snohomish County

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 669,196 67.2% 4.4%
16 to 19 years 37,608 37.6% 13.1%
20 to 24 years 44,633 80.6% 7.6%
25 to 29 years 55,936 84.9% 4.7%
30 to 34 years 67,309 82.3% 3.8%
35 to 44 years 128,069 83.3% 4.0%
45 to 54 years 107,466 83.9% 3.2%
55 to 59 years 52,610 78.4% 3.2%
60 to 64 years 55,407 62.7% 3.5%
65 to 74 years 75,971 28.1% 3.7%
75 years and over 44,187 6.2% 6.3%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 461,464 65.7% 4.1%
Black or African American alone 23,755 75.6% 5.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 6,620 58.6% 5.7%
Asian alone 86,772 70.5% 4.4%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 3,571 61.2% 3.9%
Some other race alone 29,319 71.9% 3.4%
Two or more races 57,695 70.0% 6.0%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 66,794 72.3% 3.8%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 446,503 65.4% 4.2%
Population 20 to 64 years 511,430 80.5% 4.1%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 261,812 86.8% 3.8%
Female 249,618 73.8% 4.4%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 91,780 69.8% 4.1%
With own children under 6 only 22,908 67.3% 3.8%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 17,677 56.2% 5.0%
With own children 6 to 17 only 51,195 75.6% 4.0%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 36,198 42.0% 23.1%
At or above the poverty level 470,791 84.0% 3.3%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 50,188 54.8% 8.3%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 466,797 80.5% 3.7%
Less than high school graduate 32,222 66.2% 3.8%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 103,156 75.1% 5.2%
Some college or associate's degree 153,429 79.9% 3.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher 177,990 86.6% 3.0%

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

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