Okanogan County profile

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

Posted July 2025
 

June 2025 highlights

In June, the not seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate decreased from 4.6% to 3.7%. Total nonfarm employment decreased by 290 jobs in Okanogan County from June 2024.

Summary

Okanogan County’s labor supply is 18,831 workers with a not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.7%. Total nonfarm employment during June 2025 was 13,810 jobs, a decrease of 290 jobs from June 2024 but an increase of 30 jobs over the month. The government sector makes up the largest industry with an annual average employment of 5,085 jobs out of 17,037 total annual average employment. The county has 1,474 establishments employing workers covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. The population of people ages 16-and-above is 34,281. Okanogan County had an estimated population of 44,942 in 2024, according to the Census, an increase of 6.8% since 2020.

Geography

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

 

Okanogan County is in north Washington on the Canadian border east of the midline of the state. The county is the largest of Washington’s counties by land area.

Employment situation for June 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.7% during June 2025, down from 4.0% in June 2024.

  • The labor force decreased by 842 workers from June 2024 to June 2025.

  • The total employed workers decreased by 741 workers from June 2024 to June 2025.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

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

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

Payroll employment

  • Total nonfarm employment during June 2025 was 13,810 jobs, a decrease of 290 jobs from June 2024 but an increase of 30 jobs over the month.

  • Manufacturing decreased by 150 jobs from June 2024 to June 2025 but added 20 jobs over the month.

  • Retail trade decreased 60 jobs from June 2024 and decreased 20 jobs over the month.

  • Leisure and hospitality decreased 80 jobs from June 2024 but added 80 jobs over the month.

  • Health care and social assistance increased 40 jobs from June 2024 and increased 10 jobs over the month.

  • Government jobs decreased by 50 jobs from June 2024 and decreased by 40 jobs over the month. Federal government has lost 30 jobs from June 2024, and local government has lost 20 jobs over the same time.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Okanogan County

NAICS Industry Title Jun 2025 (Prelim) May 2025 (Revised) Jun 2024 (Revised) May 2025 to Jun 2025 Change Jun 2024 to Jun 2025 Change Jun 2024 to Jun 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 13,810 13,780 14,100 30 -290 -2.1%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 8,450 8,380 8,700 70 -250 -2.9%
Goods-producing 1,280 1,280 1,440 0 -160 -11.1%
- Mining and logging 80 80 110 0 -30 -27.3%
- Construction 600 610 580 -10 20 3.4%
- Manufacturing 600 580 750 20 -150 -20.0%
Service-providing 12,520 12,510 12,670 10 -150 -1.2%
- Wholesale trade 200 200 220 0 -20 -9.1%
- Retail trade 2,030 2,050 2,090 -20 -60 -2.9%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 230 240 230 -10 0 0.0%
- Information 130 120 120 10 10 8.3%
- Financial activities 280 280 280 0 0 0.0%
- Professional and business services 710 700 700 10 10 1.4%
- Private education and health services 1,790 1,790 1,760 0 30 1.7%
- Leisure and hospitality 1,440 1,360 1,520 80 -80 -5.3%
- Other services 360 350 330 10 30 9.1%
- Government 5,360 5,400 5,410 -40 -50 -0.9%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024, updated July 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, Okanogan County 2023 annual average

 A bar graph showing the 2023 annual average industry employment in Okanogan 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 Okanogan County was 17,037. The average annual wage was $44,955 which was 51.6% of Washington state’s average annual wage of $87,091.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Government (5,085 jobs)
  • Agriculture, forestry, and fishing and hunting (3,614 jobs)
  • Retail trade (2,267 jobs)
  • Health care and social assistance (1,635 jobs)
  • Accommodation and food services (1,138 jobs)

Top sectors in terms of total wages paid in 2023:

  • Government ($313.3 million)
  • Agriculture, forestry, and fishing and hunting ($ 111.8 million)
  • Retail trade ($81.8 million)
  • Health care and social assistance ($78.7 million)
  • Accommodation and food services ($28.4 million)

Workforce demographics in Okanogan County

Okanogan County’s 16 and older population was 34,281 in 2023. The labor force participation rate was 56.3% with an average unemployment rate of 4.8%.

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

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 34,281 56.3% 4.8%
16 to 19 years 1,644 38.9% 16.4%
20 to 24 years 2,017 81.0% 7.7%
25 to 29 years 2,613 77.8% 4.4%
30 to 34 years 2,370 73.8% 6.9%
35 to 44 years 4,964 83.7% 4.4%
45 to 54 years 4,839 82.9% 3.6%
55 to 59 years 2,742 65.9% 2.2%
60 to 64 years 3,275 47.6% 5.6%
65 to 74 years 6,159 24.2% 1.7%
75 years and over 3,658 6.6% 2.5%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 24,012 51.1% 3.5%
Black or African American alone 693 88.0% 1.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 2,800 58.3% 8.0%
Asian alone 181 58.0% 13.3%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 43 100.0% 0.0%
Some other race alone 2,988 78.8% 8.8%
Two or more races 3,564 64.7% 6.1%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 5,594 75.4% 5.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 23,381 51.1% 3.5%
Population 20 to 64 years 22,820 74.3% 4.7%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 11,743 80.7% 5.7%
Female 11,077 67.5% 3.3%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 4,204 67.3% 3.8%
With own children under 6 only 780 52.2% 8.8%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 1,026 48.4% 1.2%
With own children 6 to 17 only 2,398 80.3% 3.4%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 4,224 53.2% 12.3%
At or above the poverty level 18,455 79.6% 3.5%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 3,111 43.0% 15.8%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 20,803 73.6% 4.3%
Less than high school graduate 3,338 69.9% 5.5%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 6,336 71.2% 5.1%
Some college or associate's degree 6,665 73.2% 4.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher 4,464 80.3% 2.3%

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

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