Grant County profile

Posted June 2025

May 2025 highlights

In May, the not seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate decreased from 6.3% to 5.6%. Total nonfarm employment decreased by 580 jobs in Grant County from May 2024.

Summary

Grant County has a labor supply of 45,020 workers as of May 2025. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 5.6%. Nonfarm employment in Grant County was 34,260 in May 2025, a decrease of 580 jobs from May 2024 but an increase of 70 jobs from April 2025. Agriculture, forestry and fishing make up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 8,976 out of 42,564 total annual average employment. The county has 2,495 establishments. Grant County’s 16 and older population was 75,012 in 2023.

Geography

Grant County is in central Washington. The county has a large lake where it’s largest city, Moses Lake, surrounds it and takes the name.

Employment situation for May 2025

Labor force and unemployment

• The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.6% during May 2025, up from 5.1% in May 2024.

• The labor force decreased by 1,483 workers from May 2024 to May 2025.

• The total employed workers decreased by 1,667 workers from May 2024 to May 2025.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

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

Payroll employment

• Nonfarm employment in Grant County was 34,260 in May 2025, a decrease of 580 jobs from May 2024 but an increase of 70 jobs from April 2025.

• Manufacturing decreased by 120 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025, however remained unchanged over the month.

• Construction decreased by 120 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025 and decreased by 170 jobs over the month.

• Retail trade decreased by 160 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025, and decreased 20 jobs from April 2025.

• Professional and business services decreased 240 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025 and decreased 20 jobs over the month.

• Leisure and hospitality increased by 30 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025 and increased 10 jobs over the month.

• The government sector gained 120 jobs from May 2024 to May 2025 and increased by 290 jobs over the month. One month job gains were mostly in state government, which increased by 120 jobs, and local government, which increased by 180 jobs.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Grant County

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, Grant County 2023 annual average

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

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

• Agriculture, forestry, and fishing (8,976 jobs)
• Local government (7,364 jobs)
• Manufacturing (4,532 jobs)
• Retail trade (3,538 jobs)
• Health services (3,114 jobs)

Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Grant County was $60,334, which was 69.3% of Washington state’s average annual wage of $87,091.

Top five sectors in terms of wages/payroll in 2023:

• Local government ($523.8 million)
• Agriculture, forestry, and fishing ($352.9 million)
• Manufacturing ($312.0 million)
• Professional and business services ($236.1 million)
• Wholesale trade ($177.4 million)

Workforce demographics for Grant County

Grant County’s 16 and older population was 75,012 in 2023. The labor force participation rate in Grant County was 63.3% with an average unemployment rate of 6.9%.

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

Age

Race or Hispanic origin

Sex

Females with children

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Disability status

Educational attainment

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

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