Grant County profile

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

Posted October 2025

August 2025 highlights

In August, the not seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate decreased from 5.8% to 5.5%. Total nonfarm employment decreased by 160 jobs in Grant County from August 2024.

Summary

Grant County has a labor supply of 46,644 workers as of August 2025 and the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 5.5%. Nonfarm employment in Grant County was 34,840 in August 2025, a decrease of 160 jobs from August 2024 but an increase of 230 jobs from July 2025. Agriculture, forestry and fishing make up the largest industry sector with an annual average employment of 9,326 out of 43,169 total annual average employment in 2024. The county has 2,522 establishments. Grant County’s 16 and older population was 75,012 in 2023.

Geography

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

 

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 August 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5% during August 2025, up from 5.2% in August 2024.
  • The August 2025 labor force of 46,644 workers decreased by 813 from August 2024.
  • The total number of employed workers was 44,078, a decrease of 914 workers from August 2024 to August 2025.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and Grant County from Jan. 2015 to Aug. 2025

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

Payroll employment

  • Nonfarm employment in Grant County was 34,840 in August 2025, a decrease of 160 jobs from August 2024 but an increase of 230 jobs from July 2025.
  • Manufacturing increased by 30 jobs from July 2025 to August 2025 and increased by 280 jobs from August 2024.
  • Construction increased by 60 jobs from August 2024 to August 2025 and increased by 100 jobs over the month.
  • Professional and business services decreased by 70 jobs from August 2024 to August 2025 but increased by 10 jobs over the month.
  • Health care and social assistance decreased by 180 jobs from August 2024 to August 2025 but remained unchanged over the month.
  • Leisure and hospitality decreased by 230 jobs from August 2024 to August 2025 but increased by 70 jobs over the month.
  • The government sector increased by 30 jobs from August 2024 to August 2025 and increased by 50 jobs over the month.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Grant County

NAICS Industry Title Aug 2025 (Prelim) Jul 2025 (Revised) Aug 2024 (Revised) Jul 2025 to Aug 2025 Change Aug 2024 to Aug 2025 Change Aug 2024 to Aug 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 34,840 34,610 35,000 230 -160 -0.5%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 25,780 25,590 25,960 190 -180 -0.7%
Goods-producing 6,900 6,780 6,550 120 350 5.3%
- Mining and logging 50 50 50 0 0 0.0%
- Construction 1,900 1,800 1,840 100 60 3.3%
- Manufacturing 4,950 4,920 4,670 30 280 6.0%
Service-providing 27,940 27,830 28,450 110 -510 -1.8%
- Wholesale trade 2,050 2,030 2,030 20 20 1.0%
- Retail trade 3,570 3,590 3,590 -20 -20 -0.6%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 1,240 1,240 1,250 0 -10 -0.8%
- Information 660 680 710 -20 -50 -7.0%
- Financial activities 850 830 830 20 20 2.4%
- Professional and business services 3,370 3,360 3,440 10 -70 -2.0%
- Private education and health services 3,370 3,370 3,530 0 -160 -4.5%
- Leisure and hospitality 3,070 3,000 3,300 70 -230 -7.0%
- Other services 700 700 710 0 -10 -1.4%
- Government 9,070 9,020 9,040 50 30 0.3%

Note: Data benchmarked through March 2025, updated September 15, 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 2024 annual average

A bar graph showing the 2024 annual average industry employment in Grant County

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

Average annual covered employment in 2024 in Grant County was 43,169. Covered employment refers to workers who received wages in Washington state and are eligible for state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) compensation programs.

Top sectors in terms of employment in 2024:

  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing (9,326 jobs)
  • Government (8,883 jobs)
  • Manufacturing (4,587 jobs)
  • Retail trade (3,540 jobs)
  • Healthcare and social assistance (3,226 jobs)

Wages vary by industry sector. The average annual wage in Grant County was $63,542, which was 68.7% of Washington state’s average annual wage of $92,467.

Top five sectors in terms of total wages paid in 2024:

  • Government ($685.5 million)
  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing ($387.8 million)
  • Manufacturing ($342.9 million)
  • Professional and business services ($255 million)
  • Wholesale trade ($193.6 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

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 75,012 62.6% 6.3%
16 to 19 years 6,418 44.4% 12.3%
20 to 24 years 6,605 77.7% 14.2%
25 to 29 years 6,945 82.4% 4.0%
30 to 34 years 6,781 78.9% 2.9%
35 to 44 years 12,116 81.8% 4.2%
45 to 54 years 10,846 81.3% 5.4%
55 to 59 years 5,289 71.8% 8.9%
60 to 64 years 5,619 53.4% 7.0%
65 to 74 years 8,714 22.4% 3.3%
75 years and over 5,679 7.7% 0.0%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 46,100 57.3% 5.7%
Black or African American alone 903 55.5% 8.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 1,239 67.2% 10.5%
Asian alone 946 78.4% 15.2%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 18 27.8% 0.0%
Some other race alone 15,352 73.1% 6.0%
Two or more races 10,454 69.4% 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 28,585 74.0% 6.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 41,058 55.4% 6.0%
Population 20 to 64 years 54,201 77.0% 6.1%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 28,198 82.6% 6.4%
Female 26,003 70.9% 5.7%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 10,978 73.0% 3.9%
With own children under 6 only 1,928 67.6% 1.5%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 3,457 65.5% 5.6%
With own children 6 to 17 only 5,593 79.5% 3.8%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 7,811 50.2% 20.8%
At or above the poverty level 46,207 81.8% 4.6%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 6,934 43.6% 10.7%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 47,596 76.9% 5.0%
Less than high school graduate 9,348 72.8% 5.5%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 13,532 74.0% 4.7%
Some college or associate's degree 15,901 77.1% 3.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher 8,815 85.2% 8.2%

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.