Pend Oreille County profile

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

 

Looking for another county? Expand this drop-down menu to select another profile.

Washington state

Adams

Asotin

Benton

Chelan

Clallam

Clark

Columbia

Cowlitz

Douglas

Ferry

Franklin

Garfield

Grant

Grays Harbor

Island

Jefferson

King

Kitsap

Kittitas

Klickitat

Lewis

Lincoln

Mason

Okanogan

Pacific

Pend Oreille

Pierce

San Juan

Skagit

Skamania

Snohomish

Spokane

Stevens

Thurston

Wahkiakum

Walla Walla

Whatcom

Whitman

Yakima

 

April 2026 highlights

Updated May 2026

Compared to March 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 6.8% to 6.5% (332 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 20 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 3,310 jobs).

Pend Oreille County's labor market highlights

A dark blue map of Washington state with Pend Oreille County highlighted in orange.
  • Pend Oreille County is known for its stunning natural landscapes and outdoor recreational opportunities.
  • The city of Newport serves as both the county seat and the largest city in Pend Oreille County.
  • Federal, state and local government, with 1,710 jobs, accounts for the most jobs in Pend Oreille County, which had a total annual estimated employment of 3,194 jobs in 2024.

Contact Pend Oreille County's labor economist

Mike McBride, North central / Northeast region

Pend Oreille County is part of the Eastern Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.

Employment updates for April 2026

Changes to the labor force and unemployment

The April 2026 unemployment rate was 6.5% in Pend Oreille County, 5.1% in Washington state and 4.0% in the United States.

 Measure  Apr. 2026 Mar. 2026 Apr. 2025
 Participant (labor force)  5,086 5,125 4,926
 Employed persons  4,754 4,774 4,642
 Persons seeking work  332 351 284
 Unemployment rate  6.5% 6.8% 5.8%

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

Pend Oreille County unemployment rate, January 2024 - April 2026

Pend Oreille County has a seasonal unemployment rate, with elevated levels often observed in the winter months.

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Pend Oreille County from Jan. 2024 to Apr. 2026
Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Legend - a dashed blue line with a diamond representing year 1 in the graph
2024
7.7% 8.5% 7.2% 5.7% 5.6% 4.7% 5.5% 5.5% 4.2% 5.0% 5.5% 6.5%
Legend - a orange line with a square representing year 2 in the graph
2025
6.9% 7.4% 6.7% 5.7% 5.3% 4.4% 5.2% 5.3% 4.6%   6.2% 7.1%
Legend - a dark blue line with a circle representing year 3 in the graph
2026
7.4% 7.7% 6.8% 6.5%                

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS). BLS canceled October 2025's unemployment publications.

Key changes in payroll employment 

This includes all employees with paid positions tracked in a company’s payroll system. This doesn’t include agriculture jobs or jobs outside of formal payroll such as freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals. Numbers in this section are estimates generated by a monthly survey.

In April 2026, Pend Oreille County had 3,310 jobs.

Compared with March 2026, April employment decreased by 20 jobs. 

  • 10 fewer private education and health services jobs.
  • 10 fewer leisure and hospitality jobs.
  • 10 fewer mining and logging jobs.
  • 10 more financial activities jobs.

Compared with April 2025, this April’s employment was up by 110 (3.4%) jobs.

  • 60 (3.4%) more government jobs.
  • 50 (125.0%) more mining and logging jobs.
  • 20 (9.1%) more leisure and hospitality jobs.
  • 20 (10.0%) fewer retail trade jobs.

Employment estimates for Pend Oreille County

See a snapshot of this month's data below. A detailed spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted is on the source page of our site.

Total jobs

Industry sector Apr. 2026 Mar. 2026 Apr. 2025 Mar. 2026 to
Apr. 2026
Apr. 2025 to
Apr. 2026
Mar. 2025 to
Apr. 2025 %
Total nonfarm 3,310 3,330 3,200 -20 110 3.4%
- Private 1,500 1,520 1,440 -20 60 4.2%
- Government 1,810 1,810 1,750 0 60 3.4%

Goods-producing jobs

Industry sector Apr. 2026 Mar. 2026 Apr. 2025 Mar. 2026 to
Apr. 2026
Apr. 2025 to
Apr. 2026
Mar. 2025 to
Apr. 2025 %
Goods-producing 310 320 240 -10 70 29.2%
- Mining and logging 90 100 40 -10 50 125.0%
- Construction 150 150 140 0 10 7.1%
- Manufacturing 60 60 60 0 0 0.0%

Service-providing jobs

Industry sector Apr. 2026 Mar. 2026 Apr. 2025 Mar. 2026 to
Apr. 2026
Apr. 2025 to
Apr. 2026
Mar. 2025 to
Apr. 2025 %
Service-providing 3,000 3,010 2,950 -10 50 1.7%
- Wholesale trade 10 10 10 0 0 0.0%
- Retail trade 180 180 200 0 -20 -10.0%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities 40 40 40 0 0 0.0%
- Information 30 40 40 -10 -10 -25.0%
- Financial activities 80 70 80 10 0 0.0%
- Professional and business services 260 260 260 0 0 0.0%
- Private education and health services 300 310 300 -10 0 0.0%
- Leisure and hospitality 240 250 220 -10 20 9.1%
- Other services 40 40 40 0 0 0.0%
- Government 1,810 1,810 1,750 0 60 3.4%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2025, updated May 20, 2026. The current month’s data is preliminary. Analysts continue to refine past months as more related information becomes available. Industry columns use North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry titles. Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)

Employment details for industries and sectors

This profile section uses the latest Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) annual averages data.

This quarterly census data includes both agricultural and nonagricultural employment and wages for firms, organizations and individuals with employees covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Covered employment refers to the total number of employees with this type of coverage.

Top sectors by employment

November 2024’s annual average was 3,194 total covered employees.

  • Government - 1,710 jobs.
  • Healthcare and social assistance - 275 jobs.
  • Retail trade - 242 jobs.
  • Accommodation and food services - 236 jobs.
  • Construction - 153 jobs.

Top sectors by wages

2024’s annual average wage was $63,130 for covered employees.

  • Professional, scientific and technical services - $115,522.
  • Administrative and waste services - $112,787.
  • Government - $71,828.
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting - $70,949.
  • Manufacturing - $66,773.

2024 annual average employment by industry

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

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

Workforce demographics in Pend Oreille County

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force
participation rate
Unemployment
rate
Population 16 years and over  11,639  48.5% 6.1%
16 to 19 years  513  44.1% 31.9%
20 to 24 years  736  68.2% 8.2%
25 to 29 years  600  85.7% 1.0%
30 to 34 years  727  70.7% 3.1%
35 to 44 years  1,392  78.6% 4.1%
45 to 54 years  1,523  75.5% 4.5%
55 to 59 years  1,018  51.5% 3.6%
60 to 64 years  1,289  50.1% 5.4%
65 to 74 years  2,464  17.0% 13.9%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force
participation rate
Unemployment
rate
White alone  10,234   47.1%   6.0% 
Black or African American alone  25   20.0%   0.0% 
American Indian and Alaska Native alone  237   45.1%   0.9% 
Asian alone  63   14.3%   0.0% 
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone  12   100.0%   0.0% 
Some other race alone  199   53.3%   0.0% 
Two or more races  869   67.1%   8.9% 
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race)  438   54.1%   15.6% 
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino  10,126   46.9%   6.1% 
Population 20 to 64 years  7,285   67.9%   4.3% 

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force
participation rate
Unemployment
rate
Male  3,749  72.5% 6.8%
Female  3,536  62.9% 1.2%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force
participation rate
Unemployment
rate
With own children under 18 years  1,085  73.7% 0.4%
With own children under 6 years only  277  82.7% 1.3%
With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17  years  126  89.7% 0.0%
With own children 6 to 17 years only  682  67.2% 0.0%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force
participation rate
Unemployment
rate
Below poverty level  1,136  34.9% 14.1%
At or above the poverty level  6,096  74.6% 3.5%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force
participation rate
Unemployment
rate
With any disability  1,130  38.6% 6.0%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force
participation rate
Unemployment
rate
Population 25 to 64 years  6,549  67.8% 3.9%
Less than high school graduate  359  45.4% 4.9%
High school graduate (includes equivalency)  2,445  67.7% 5.2%
Some college or associate's degree  2,517  66.5% 2.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher  1,228  77.4% 4.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024: ACS 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status 

Funding

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.