- Posted June 2025
May 2025 highlights
In May, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.4% to 4.7% and total nonfarm employment decreased by 20 jobs from April.
Summary
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7% in May 2025, down from 5.1% in May 2024 and up from 4.4% in April 2025. The Jefferson County labor force has 11,774 workers. Total nonfarm employment, at 9,150 jobs, decreased by 70 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025, and decreased by 20 jobs from April 2025.
Geography
Jefferson County is located on the Olympic Peninsula in northwestern Washington state. It is nestled between the Admiralty Inlet and Clallam, Mason, Grays Harbor and Kitsap counties. It faces the Pacific Ocean to the west and Hood Canal to the east. Named for President Thomas Jefferson, it was created in 1852 from a portion of Lewis County. The county seat is Port Townsend.
Much of Jefferson County is publicly managed. About 60% of the county comprises the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest and roughly 20% percent is under state and federal jurisdiction. The Hoh Reservation and a small corner of the Quinault Reservation are also located in Jefferson County. Jefferson County is a mid-sized county, ranking 18th in the state in land area. Its population density, as measured by people per square mile, ranks 29th.
Jefferson 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
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7% in May 2025, down from 5.1% in May 2024 but up from 4.4% in April 2025.
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The labor force, at 11,774 workers, decreased by 302 workers from May 2024 but increased by 161 workers over the month.
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 at 9,150 jobs decreased by 70 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025 and decreased 20 jobs from April 2025.
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Construction employment, at 700 jobs, increased by 10 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025 and was unchanged over the month.
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Trade, transportation and utilities industry jobs, at 1,370 jobs, decreased by 30 over the year and was unchanged over the month.
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Retail trade employment was unchanged over the month and decreased by 20 jobs over the year.
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Private education and health services industry jobs lost 40 jobs over the year and lost 40 jobs over the month.
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Leisure and hospitality employment at 1,160 jobs decreased by 30 jobs over the year, however increased by 20 jobs over the month.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 9,150 | 9,170 | 9,220 | -20 | -70 | -0.8% |
| Total private (total nonfarm less government) | 6,500 | 6,500 | 6,570 | 0 | -70 | -1.1% |
| Goods-producing | 1,370 | 1,360 | 1,360 | 10 | 10 | 0.7% |
| - Mining and logging | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Construction | 700 | 700 | 690 | 0 | 10 | 1.4% |
| - Manufacturing | 650 | 640 | 650 | 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Service-providing | 7,790 | 7,810 | 7,860 | -20 | -70 | -0.9% |
| - Wholesale trade | 210 | 210 | 210 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Retail trade | 1,060 | 1,060 | 1,080 | 0 | -20 | -1.9% |
| - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities | 100 | 100 | 120 | 0 | -20 | -16.7% |
| - Information | 100 | 90 | 90 | 10 | 10 | 11.1% |
| - Financial activities | 300 | 300 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 510 | 500 | 500 | 10 | 10 | 2.0% |
| - Private education and health services | 1,160 | 1,200 | 1,200 | -40 | -40 | -3.3% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 1,160 | 1,140 | 1,190 | 20 | -30 | -2.5% |
| - Other services | 540 | 530 | 530 | 10 | 10 | 1.9% |
| - Government | 2,650 | 2,670 | 2,650 | -20 | 0 | 0.0% |
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, Jefferson County 2023 annual average
Note: ND stands for not disclosed. ND is used to avoid disclosing data for individual employers. Industries labeled ND are grouped in the Not elsewhere classified category.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Jefferson County was 8,968 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 Jefferson County was $54,891 in 2023.
Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
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Government (2,492)
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Accommodation and food service (1,091)
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Retail Trade (1,077)
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Health care and social services (772)
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Construction (710)
Top sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
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Mining and Utilities* ($109,645)
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Professional, scientific, and technical services ($98,924)
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Government ($75,373)
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Manufacturing ($73,563)
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Finance and insurance ($62,567)
Workforce demographics in Jefferson County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 29,896 | 43.3% | 7.7% |
| 16 to 19 years | 719 | 44.9% | 20.9% |
| 20 to 24 years | 943 | 78.3% | 25.6% |
| 25 to 29 years | 1,334 | 75.0% | 3.0% |
| 30 to 34 years | 1,570 | 77.5% | 5.8% |
| 35 to 44 years | 3,156 | 73.9% | 6.9% |
| 45 to 54 years | 3,297 | 72.1% | 8.4% |
| 55 to 59 years | 2,602 | 64.7% | 8.2% |
| 60 to 64 years | 3,094 | 46.5% | 7.6% |
| 65 to 74 years | 8,080 | 19.3% | 1.7% |
| 75 years and over | 5,101 | 5.3% | 0.0% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 26,198 | 43.0% | 7.7% |
| Black or African American alone | 114 | 47.4% | 0.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 309 | 57.9% | 15.6% |
| Asian alone | 443 | 33.9% | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 29 | 75.9% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 724 | 34.7% | 1.2% |
| Two or more races | 2,079 | 48.5% | 9.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 1,077 | 58.0% | 7.6% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 25,880 | 42.7% | 7.8% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 15,996 | 67.4% | 8.3% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 7,899 | 68.5% | 9.1% |
| Female | 8,097 | 66.4% | 7.6% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 2,161 | 63.5% | 8.6% |
| With own children under 6 only | 568 | 54.0% | 6.2% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 419 | 40.8% | 0.0% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 1,174 | 76.2% | 11.1% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 2,175 | 29.5% | 22.5% |
| At or above the poverty level | 13,467 | 75.3% | 7.4% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 2,246 | 34.8% | 13.2% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 15,053 | 66.7% | 7.1% |
| Less than high school graduate | 830 | 45.9% | 4.7% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 3,302 | 68.2% | 10.0% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 5,138 | 64.6% | 6.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5,783 | 70.8% | 5.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
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