September 2025 highlights
In September, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remains low, decreasing slightly to 3.9% from last month. Total nonfarm employment increased by 900 jobs from last month.
Summary
The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9% in September 2025. This is down from 4.5% in August 2025, and unchanged from September 2024. Whatcom County’s labor force was 113,291 workers. Total nonfarm employment increased by 900 jobs from last month and was 1,400 jobs below last year.
Location
Whatcom County is in northwest Washington. It borders British Columbia, Canada, to the north, Skagit County to the south, and Okanogan County to the east. The Salish Sea lies to the west and the Cascade Mountains rise to the east. Whatcom County’s elevation ranges from sea level to 10,781 feet atop active volcano Mount Baker, also known as Kulshan.
Whatcom is part of the Bellingham Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is also part of Workforce Development Area 3, along with Skagit, San Juan and Island counties. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.
Employment situation for September 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9% in September 2025, down from 4.5% in August and unchanged from September 2024.
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The labor force, at 113,291 workers, has expanded by 879 workers since September 2024 and gained 1,667 workers from last month.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment
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Total nonfarm employment in September 2025, at 95,100 jobs, increased by 900 jobs from August and is 1,400 jobs lower compared to September 2024.
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Goods producing industry jobs were down 200 jobs from last month and up 1,100 jobs from a year ago.
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Private service providing industry jobs were down 400 jobs from last month and down 1,000 jobs from a year ago.
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Trade, transportation and utilities was 100 jobs above last month and down 300 jobs from a year ago.
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Leisure and hospitality was down 400 from last month and was unchanged from September 2024.
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Whatcom County
| NAICS Industry Title | Sep 2025 (Prelim) | Aug 2025 (Revised) | Sep 2024 (Revised) | Aug 2025 to Sep 2025 Change | Sep 2024 to Sep 2025 Change | Sep 2024 to Sep 2025 % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 95,100 | 94,200 | 96,500 | 900 | -1,400 | -1.5% |
| Total private (total nonfarm less government) | 78,000 | 78,600 | 77,900 | -600 | 100 | 0.1% |
| Goods-producing | 18,300 | 18,500 | 17,200 | -200 | 1,100 | 6.4% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 8,700 | 8,900 | 8,100 | -200 | 600 | 7.4% |
| - Manufacturing | 9,600 | 9,600 | 9,100 | 0 | 500 | 5.5% |
| Service-providing | 76,800 | 75,700 | 79,300 | 1,100 | -2,500 | -3.2% |
| - Trade, transportation, and utilities | 15,900 | 15,800 | 16,200 | 100 | -300 | -1.9% |
| - Retail trade | 10,600 | 10,600 | 10,900 | 0 | -300 | -2.8% |
| - Financial activities | 3,900 | 3,900 | 4,300 | 0 | -400 | -9.3% |
| - Professional and business services | 9,100 | 9,100 | 9,500 | 0 | -400 | -4.2% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 10,100 | 10,500 | 10,100 | -400 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Government | 17,100 | 15,600 | 18,600 | 1,500 | -1,500 | -8.1% |
Note: Data benchmarked through March 2025, updated December 8, 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, Whatcom County 2024 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Note: ND stands for not disclosed. ND is used to avoid disclosing data for individual employers. Industries labeled ND are grouped in the Not elsewhere classified category.
Average annual covered employment in Whatcom County was 93,436 in 2024. Covered employment refers to workers who received wages in Washington state and are eligible for state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) compensation programs.
The average annual wage in Washington state for all industries was $92,467 in 2024. The average annual wage in Whatcom County was $65,170 in 2024.
Top sectors in terms of average annual employment in 2024:
- Government (15,543)
- Health care and social assistance (13,343)
- Retail trade (10,643)
- Manufacturing (8,935)
- Accommodation and food services (8,347)
Top sectors in terms of annual average wages in 2024:
- Not elsewhere classified ($140,140)
- Information ($115,533)
- Finance and insurance ($106,163)
- Professional, scientific and technical services ($93,384)
- Management of companies and enterprises ($87,885)
Workforce demographics in Whatcom County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 190,060 | 63.0% | 5.1% |
| 16 to 19 years | 11,987 | 47.0% | 23.0% |
| 20 to 24 years | 22,680 | 78.3% | 8.8% |
| 25 to 29 years | 16,170 | 81.7% | 4.7% |
| 30 to 34 years | 15,366 | 79.1% | 2.8% |
| 35 to 44 years | 29,098 | 87.7% | 2.4% |
| 45 to 54 years | 25,513 | 82.2% | 3.4% |
| 55 to 59 years | 12,648 | 74.2% | 3.5% |
| 60 to 64 years | 14,343 | 58.8% | 3.8% |
| 65 to 74 years | 26,015 | 22.1% | 2.8% |
| 75 years and over | 16,240 | 5.5% | 11.7% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 153,135 | 61.7% | 5.0% |
| Black or African American alone | 1,729 | 67.9% | 11.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 3,473 | 59.8% | 10.2% |
| Asian alone | 8,345 | 66.2% | 2.5% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 576 | 75.2% | 4.5% |
| Some other race alone | 7,626 | 77.1% | 3.6% |
| Two or more races | 15,176 | 66.9% | 5.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 16,622 | 70.7% | 4.1% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 149,235 | 61.4% | 5.0% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 135,818 | 79.1% | 4.2% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 67,970 | 84.0% | 4.5% |
| Female | 67,848 | 74.2% | 3.8% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 20,867 | 71.3% | 3.2% |
| With own children under 6 only | 4,727 | 66.0% | 4.4% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 4,423 | 63.2% | 3.4% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 11,717 | 76.5% | 2.7% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 18,236 | 51.2% | 16.6% |
| At or above the poverty level | 116,464 | 83.9% | 3.0% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 15,157 | 51.0% | 8.1% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 113,138 | 79.3% | 3.3% |
| Less than high school graduate | 7,523 | 66.7% | 1.7% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 23,492 | 74.7% | 4.1% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 39,185 | 76.1% | 3.6% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42,938 | 86.8% | 2.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Whatcom County.
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