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December 2025 highlights
Updated January 2026
Compared to November 2025, the unemployment rate increased from 4.9% to 5.6% (3,374 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 100 fewer jobs on payrolls (for a total of 54,100 jobs).
Skagit County's labor market highlights
-
Skagit County, located in northwest Washington, is situated between Whatcom County to the north and Snohomish County to the south. The Salish Sea lies to the west and the Cascade Mountains rise to the east. The Skagit River runs through the largest population centers of the county. Although most of the county is continental, it includes several islands in the Salish Sea.
- Skagit County ranges in elevation from sea level to a high point of 9,114 feet at the non-volcanic peak, Mount Buckner.
- Glacier Peak, located in neighboring Snohomish County, is noted by the U.S. Geologic Survey as one of the most active and explosive of Washington's volcanoes.
- Glacier Peak shaped the geography of the Skagit River valley through tremendous mud and debris flows (lahars) which, at times, traveled more than 100 miles to reach the Salish Sea.
Contact Skagit County's labor economist
Toby Paterson, North sound region
- Email Toby: toby.paterson@esd.wa.gov
- Call Toby: 360-742-2491
Skagit County is part of the Northwest Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Skagit County is synonymous with the Mount Vernon-Anacortes Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Employment updates for December 2025
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The December 2025 unemployment rate is 5.6% in Skagit County, 5.3% in Washington state and 4.1% in the United States.
| Skagit County unemployment rate | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 60,637 | 61,021 | 59,247 |
| Employed persons | 57,263 | 58,061 | 56,173 |
| Persons seeking work | 3,374 | 2,960 | 3,074 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Skagit County's unemployment rate, 2023 to 2025
The unemployment rate changes throughout the year, rising and falling based on the size of the labor force and the number of unemployed people.
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5.1% |
5.6% |
4.8% |
3.8% |
3.5% |
3.1% |
4.1% |
4.8% |
4.2% |
4.7% |
4.8% |
5.8% |
|
5.8% |
6.2% |
5.5% |
4.5% |
4.8% |
4.2% |
4.9% |
5.1% |
4.1% |
4.6% |
5.0% |
5.2% |
|
5.3% |
5.9% |
4.7% |
4.1% |
4.4% |
3.7% |
4.6% |
4.7% |
4.0% |
4.9% |
5.6% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Key changes in payroll employment
This includes all employees with paid positions tracked in a company’s payroll system. This doesn’t include persons working outside of formal payroll such as freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals. Numbers in this section are estimates generated by a monthly survey.
In December 2025, Skagit County has 54,100 jobs.
One month ago, in November 2025 there were 100 more jobs (54,200 in total.)
Compared to that month, in December there are:
- 200 fewer jobs in Government
- Mining, Logging and Construction was notably unchanged
In December 2024 there were 800 fewer jobs (53,300 in total.)
Compared to that month, this December there are:
- 200 (4.2%) fewer jobs in Mining, Logging and Construction
- 300 (2.3%) more jobs in Government
Employment estimates for Skagit 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 | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 | Nov 2025 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 54,100 | 54,200 | 53,300 | -100 | 800 | 1.5% |
| - Private | 41,000 | 40,900 | 40,500 | 100 | 500 | 1.2% |
| - Government | 13,100 | 13,300 | 12,800 | -200 | 300 | 2.3% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 | Nov 2025 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 11,200 | 11,200 | 11,400 | 0 | -200 | -1.8% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 4,600 | 4,600 | 4,800 | 0 | -200 | -4.2% |
| - Manufacturing | 6,600 | 6,600 | 6,600 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry | Dec 2025 | Nov 2025 | Dec 2024 | Nov 2025 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 42,900 | 43,000 | 41,900 | -100 | 1,000 | 2.4% |
| - Trade, transportation, and utilities | 10,400 | 10,300 | 10,000 | 100 | 400 | 4.0% |
| - Retail trade | 7,000 | 7,000 | 6,800 | 0 | 200 | 2.9% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 5,200 | 5,200 | 4,800 | 0 | 400 | 8.3% |
| - Government | 13,100 | 13,300 | 12,800 | -200 | 300 | 2.3% |
Note: Data benchmarked through June 2025, updated January 16, 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
2024’s annual average was 54,022 total covered employees.
- Government - 12,486 jobs.
- Retail trade - 6,698 jobs.
- Manufacturing - 6,309 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 5,417 jobs.
- Accommodation and food services - 4,384 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2024’s annual average wage was $65,456 for covered employees.
- Utilities - $133,899.
- Management of companies and enterprises - $101,618.
- Information - $93,873.
- Professional, scientific and technical services - $88,382.
- Construction - $88,180.
2024 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Workforce demographics in Skagit County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 106,270 | 58.5% | 4.9% |
| 16 to 19 years | 6,069 | 45.4% | 14.1% |
| 20 to 24 years | 6,705 | 82.0% | 9.0% |
| 25 to 29 years | 8,033 | 83.0% | 3.7% |
| 30 to 34 years | 8,237 | 81.3% | 3.4% |
| 35 to 44 years | 16,398 | 81.6% | 5.5% |
| 45 to 54 years | 14,546 | 82.4% | 3.2% |
| 55 to 59 years | 8,206 | 71.5% | 2.8% |
| 60 to 64 years | 9,266 | 52.1% | 3.4% |
| 65 to 74 years | 17,301 | 22.4% | 5.1% |
| 75 years and over | 11,509 | 5.7% | 3.3% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 84,489 | 55.7% | 4.2% |
| Black or African American alone | 978 | 68.3% | 3.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 1,532 | 68.3% | 12.3% |
| Asian alone | 2,323 | 61.0% | 1.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 258 | 86.8% | 13.8% |
| Some other race alone | 9,011 | 74.7% | 5.9% |
| Two or more races | 7,679 | 65.9% | 8.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 16,426 | 73.4% | 8.1% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 80,165 | 54.8% | 4.0% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 71,391 | 76.9% | 4.4% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 35,940 | 82.6% | 4.8% |
| Female | 35,451 | 71.2% | 3.9% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 12,657 | 70.0% | 3.1% |
| With own children under 6 only | 3,368 | 59.2% | 3.6% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 2,183 | 60.9% | 3.1% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 7,106 | 77.9% | 2.9% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 8,121 | 45.4% | 21.3% |
| At or above the poverty level | 62,877 | 81.4% | 3.1% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 8,724 | 45.9% | 10.7% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 64,686 | 76.4% | 3.9% |
| Less than high school graduate | 6,643 | 70.5% | 6.0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 17,503 | 75.4% | 4.0% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 23,011 | 72.8% | 4.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17,529 | 84.5% | 2.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 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.