Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Pacific Northwest
Question 1
Where are you right now?
Why we ask: a laid-off week and a thinking-about-a-move week look nothing alike. No résumé, no account.
Key facts
- #1 Chelan County, WA: 3.1%
- #2 Spokane County, WA: 3.2%
- #3 Walla Walla County, WA: 3.2%
- 43 counties ranked in the Pacific Northwest
- Data as of November 2026
For comparison: 4.1% across the typical large county.
- 1Chelan County WA3.1%
- 2Spokane County WA3.2%
- 3Walla Walla County WA3.2%
- 4Thurston County WA3.4%
- 5Island County WA3.4%
- 6Clallam County WA3.4%
- 7Whitman County WA3.4%
- 8Kitsap County WA3.5%
- 9Whatcom County WA3.5%
- 10Benton County WA3.5%
What stands out
- The top ten is tightly packed: Chelan County leads on 3.1%, and #10 Benton County is at 3.5%.
- Whitman County reaches #7 on a sample of 21,492 people in the labor force, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
- Spokane County is the largest market in the top ten, with 261,925 people in the labor force behind its figure.
- Counties with fewer than 20,000 people in the labor force are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
Why this ranking matters
What it shows
The unemployment rate shows how much slack a county's labor market has. A low rate means employers are competing for the people who are available.
How to use it
If you are looking for work, a low-rate county is a sign that employers there are hiring. Check the county page for its largest employers and recent layoffs.
The top 25
- 1
Chelan County WA
3.1%
- A year ago
- 3.3%
- People in the labor force
- 42,163
- Population
- 79,518
Based on 42,163 people in the labor force.
- 2
Spokane County WA
3.2%
- A year ago
- 3.6%
- People in the labor force
- 261,925
- Population
- 544,323
Based on 261,925 people in the labor force.
- 3
Walla Walla County WA
3.2%
- A year ago
- 3.4%
- People in the labor force
- 29,289
- Population
- 62,102
Based on 29,289 people in the labor force.
- 4
Thurston County WA
3.4%
- A year ago
- 3.9%
- People in the labor force
- 144,060
- Population
- 296,640
Based on 144,060 people in the labor force.
- 5
Island County WA
3.4%
- A year ago
- 4.0%
- People in the labor force
- 35,421
- Population
- 86,747
Based on 35,421 people in the labor force.
- 6
Clallam County WA
3.4%
- A year ago
- 4.1%
- People in the labor force
- 30,531
- Population
- 77,593
Based on 30,531 people in the labor force.
- 7
Whitman County WA
3.4%
- A year ago
- 3.3%
- People in the labor force
- 21,492
- Population
- 47,042
Based on 21,492 people in the labor force.
- 8
Kitsap County WA
3.5%
- A year ago
- 3.7%
- People in the labor force
- 120,336
- Population
- 276,581
Based on 120,336 people in the labor force.
- 9
Whatcom County WA
3.5%
- A year ago
- 3.9%
- People in the labor force
- 113,440
- Population
- 228,432
Based on 113,440 people in the labor force.
- 10
Benton County WA
3.5%
- A year ago
- 3.8%
- People in the labor force
- 105,654
- Population
- 210,224
Based on 105,654 people in the labor force.
- 11
Douglas County WA
3.5%
- A year ago
- 3.8%
- People in the labor force
- 20,670
- Population
- 43,733
Based on 20,670 people in the labor force.
- 12
Clark County WA
3.6%
- A year ago
- 4.1%
- People in the labor force
- 253,367
- Population
- 510,516
Based on 253,367 people in the labor force.
- 13
Skagit County WA
3.7%
- A year ago
- 4.0%
- People in the labor force
- 60,255
- Population
- 130,407
Based on 60,255 people in the labor force.
- 14
Franklin County WA
3.7%
- A year ago
- 4.1%
- People in the labor force
- 47,126
- Population
- 97,676
Based on 47,126 people in the labor force.
- 15
Kittitas County WA
3.7%
- A year ago
- 3.9%
- People in the labor force
- 22,251
- Population
- 44,736
Based on 22,251 people in the labor force.
- 16
Deschutes County OR
3.9%
- A year ago
- 4.7%
- People in the labor force
- 111,956
- Population
- 203,026
Based on 111,956 people in the labor force.
- 17
Yamhill County OR
3.9%
- A year ago
- 5.0%
- People in the labor force
- 57,103
- Population
- 108,122
Based on 57,103 people in the labor force.
- 18
Benton County OR
3.9%
- A year ago
- 4.8%
- People in the labor force
- 49,221
- Population
- 96,359
Based on 49,221 people in the labor force.
- 19
Marion County OR
4.0%
- A year ago
- 4.9%
- People in the labor force
- 187,060
- Population
- 346,532
Based on 187,060 people in the labor force.
- 20
Yakima County WA
4.0%
- A year ago
- 4.2%
- People in the labor force
- 129,429
- Population
- 256,605
Based on 129,429 people in the labor force.
- 21
Polk County OR
4.0%
- A year ago
- 4.9%
- People in the labor force
- 47,883
- Population
- 88,553
Based on 47,883 people in the labor force.
- 22
Grant County WA
4.0%
- A year ago
- 4.6%
- People in the labor force
- 47,249
- Population
- 100,428
Based on 47,249 people in the labor force.
- 23
Cowlitz County WA
4.0%
- A year ago
- 4.6%
- People in the labor force
- 46,732
- Population
- 111,539
Based on 46,732 people in the labor force.
- 24
Umatilla County OR
4.0%
- A year ago
- 5.1%
- People in the labor force
- 37,926
- Population
- 80,087
Based on 37,926 people in the labor force.
- 25
Washington County OR
4.1%
- A year ago
- 5.2%
- People in the labor force
- 345,574
- Population
- 600,266
Based on 345,574 people in the labor force.
Full ranking
All 43 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | County | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelan County WA | 3.1% | 42,163 |
| 2 | Spokane County WA | 3.2% | 261,925 |
| 3 | Walla Walla County WA | 3.2% | 29,289 |
| 4 | Thurston County WA | 3.4% | 144,060 |
| 5 | Island County WA | 3.4% | 35,421 |
| 6 | Clallam County WA | 3.4% | 30,531 |
| 7 | Whitman County WA | 3.4% | 21,492 |
| 8 | Kitsap County WA | 3.5% | 120,336 |
| 9 | Whatcom County WA | 3.5% | 113,440 |
| 10 | Benton County WA | 3.5% | 105,654 |
| 11 | Douglas County WA | 3.5% | 20,670 |
| 12 | Clark County WA | 3.6% | 253,367 |
| 13 | Skagit County WA | 3.7% | 60,255 |
| 14 | Franklin County WA | 3.7% | 47,126 |
| 15 | Kittitas County WA | 3.7% | 22,251 |
| 16 | Deschutes County OR | 3.9% | 111,956 |
| 17 | Yamhill County OR | 3.9% | 57,103 |
| 18 | Benton County OR | 3.9% | 49,221 |
| 19 | Marion County OR | 4.0% | 187,060 |
| 20 | Yakima County WA | 4.0% | 129,429 |
| 21 | Polk County OR | 4.0% | 47,883 |
| 22 | Grant County WA | 4.0% | 47,249 |
| 23 | Cowlitz County WA | 4.0% | 46,732 |
| 24 | Umatilla County OR | 4.0% | 37,926 |
| 25 | Washington County OR | 4.1% | 345,574 |
| 26 | Clackamas County OR | 4.1% | 227,400 |
| 27 | Clatsop County OR | 4.1% | 20,406 |
| 28 | Mason County WA | 4.2% | 25,072 |
| 29 | Multnomah County OR | 4.3% | 469,250 |
| 30 | Lewis County WA | 4.3% | 33,964 |
| 31 | Grays Harbor County WA | 4.3% | 29,423 |
| 32 | Lane County OR | 4.4% | 188,288 |
| 33 | Linn County OR | 4.4% | 62,850 |
| 34 | Jackson County OR | 4.7% | 109,826 |
| 35 | King County WA | 4.8% | 1,373,697 |
| 36 | Coos County OR | 4.8% | 26,940 |
| 37 | Columbia County OR | 4.8% | 26,694 |
| 38 | Snohomish County WA | 4.9% | 466,879 |
| 39 | Lincoln County OR | 4.9% | 21,259 |
| 40 | Pierce County WA | 5.1% | 499,802 |
| 41 | Douglas County OR | 5.1% | 46,914 |
| 42 | Klamath County OR | 5.5% | 29,957 |
| 43 | Josephine County OR | 5.6% | 35,480 |
How this ranking works
A county's score is its unemployment rate, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted. The lowest rate ranks first.
Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Local rates are estimates and move from month to month.
Sample bar: counties with fewer than 20,000 people in the labor force are not ranked.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (not seasonally adjusted). Data as of November 2026.
Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.
Questions
- Which county ranks first: counties with the lowest unemployment in the pacific northwest?
- Chelan County has the lowest unemployment rate in the Pacific Northwest among large counties: 3.1%, against 4.1% for the typical large county.
- How many counties are ranked?
- 43 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 43 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- A county's score is its unemployment rate, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted. The lowest rate ranks first. Only counties with at least 20,000 people in the labor force are ranked, so small counties do not swing the list. Local rates are estimates and move from month to month.
- How often is it updated?
- Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.
More rankings
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Pacific Northwest
- Best college towns for junior jobs in the Pacific Northwest
- Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Pacific Northwest
- Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in the Pacific Northwest
- Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Pacific Northwest
- Best cities for junior jobs in the Pacific Northwest
- Counties with the lowest unemployment
- All rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Pacific Northwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-the-pacific-northwest
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-the-pacific-northwest">Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Pacific Northwest (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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