NextChapter

Counties with the lowest unemployment in the West Coast

Chelan County has the lowest unemployment rate in the West Coast among large counties: 3.1%, against 5.0% for the typical large county.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data.

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Key facts

  • #1 Chelan County, WA: 3.1%
  • #2 Spokane County, WA: 3.2%
  • #3 Walla Walla County, WA: 3.2%
  • 86 counties ranked in the West Coast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 5.0% across the typical large county.

  1. 1Chelan County WA3.1%
  2. 2Spokane County WA3.2%
  3. 3Walla Walla County WA3.2%
  4. 4Thurston County WA3.4%
  5. 5Island County WA3.4%
  6. 6Clallam County WA3.4%
  7. 7Whitman County WA3.4%
  8. 8Kitsap County WA3.5%
  9. 9Whatcom County WA3.5%
  10. 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. 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.

    Chelan County job market

  2. 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.

    Spokane County job market

  3. 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.

    Walla Walla County job market

  4. 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.

    Thurston County job market

  5. 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.

    Island County job market

  6. 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.

    Clallam County job market

  7. 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.

    Whitman County job market

  8. 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.

    Kitsap County job market

  9. 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.

    Whatcom County job market

  10. 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.

    Benton County job market

  11. 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.

    Douglas County job market

  12. 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.

    Clark County job market

  13. 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.

    Skagit County job market

  14. 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.

    Franklin County job market

  15. 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.

    Kittitas County job market

  16. 16

    San Mateo County CA

    3.9%

    A year ago
    4.1%
    People in the labor force
    410,701
    Population
    745,100

    Based on 410,701 people in the labor force.

    San Mateo County job market

  17. 17

    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.

    Deschutes County job market

  18. 18

    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.

    Yamhill County job market

  19. 19

    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.

    Benton County job market

  20. 20

    San Francisco County CA

    4.0%

    A year ago
    4.3%
    People in the labor force
    501,440
    Population
    836,321

    Based on 501,440 people in the labor force.

    San Francisco County job market

  21. 21

    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.

    Marion County job market

  22. 22

    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.

    Yakima County job market

  23. 23

    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.

    Polk County job market

  24. 24

    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.

    Grant County job market

  25. 25

    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.

    Cowlitz County job market

Full ranking

All 86 counties that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCountyScoreSample
1Chelan County WA3.1%42,163
2Spokane County WA3.2%261,925
3Walla Walla County WA3.2%29,289
4Thurston County WA3.4%144,060
5Island County WA3.4%35,421
6Clallam County WA3.4%30,531
7Whitman County WA3.4%21,492
8Kitsap County WA3.5%120,336
9Whatcom County WA3.5%113,440
10Benton County WA3.5%105,654
11Douglas County WA3.5%20,670
12Clark County WA3.6%253,367
13Skagit County WA3.7%60,255
14Franklin County WA3.7%47,126
15Kittitas County WA3.7%22,251
16San Mateo County CA3.9%410,701
17Deschutes County OR3.9%111,956
18Yamhill County OR3.9%57,103
19Benton County OR3.9%49,221
20San Francisco County CA4.0%501,440
21Marion County OR4.0%187,060
22Yakima County WA4.0%129,429
23Polk County OR4.0%47,883
24Grant County WA4.0%47,249
25Cowlitz County WA4.0%46,732
26Umatilla County OR4.0%37,926
27Washington County OR4.1%345,574
28Clackamas County OR4.1%227,400
29Clatsop County OR4.1%20,406
30Santa Clara County CA4.2%1,040,676
31Napa County CA4.2%74,282
32Mason County WA4.2%25,072
33Orange County CA4.3%1,615,890
34Multnomah County OR4.3%469,250
35Sonoma County CA4.3%247,201
36Marin County CA4.3%123,425
37Lewis County WA4.3%33,964
38Grays Harbor County WA4.3%29,423
39Placer County CA4.4%208,548
40Lane County OR4.4%188,288
41Linn County OR4.4%62,850
42Los Angeles County CA4.5%5,031,013
43Santa Barbara County CA4.5%226,288
44San Luis Obispo County CA4.6%133,280
45San Diego County CA4.7%1,656,661
46Alameda County CA4.7%860,492
47Jackson County OR4.7%109,826
48King County WA4.8%1,373,697
49Contra Costa County CA4.8%577,458
50Nevada County CA4.8%47,496
51Coos County OR4.8%26,940
52Columbia County OR4.8%26,694
53Snohomish County WA4.9%466,879
54Ventura County CA4.9%418,002
55Lincoln County OR4.9%21,259
56El Dorado County CA5.0%89,933
57Sacramento County CA5.1%784,917
58Pierce County WA5.1%499,802
59Santa Cruz County CA5.1%138,703
60Douglas County OR5.1%46,914
61Shasta County CA5.2%81,542
62Humboldt County CA5.2%60,296
63Mendocino County CA5.2%37,131
64Solano County CA5.3%218,875
65San Bernardino County CA5.5%1,029,285
66Monterey County CA5.5%227,565
67Yolo County CA5.5%112,553
68Klamath County OR5.5%29,957
69Tuolumne County CA5.5%22,009
70Josephine County OR5.6%35,480
71San Benito County CA5.7%35,200
72Riverside County CA5.9%1,193,416
73Butte County CA5.9%90,577
74Tehama County CA5.9%27,799
75San Joaquin County CA6.2%377,180
76Yuba County CA6.5%36,193
77Stanislaus County CA6.6%255,342
78Madera County CA7.0%71,120
79Sutter County CA7.1%46,200
80Lake County CA7.1%26,900
81Fresno County CA7.4%478,446
82Kern County CA7.9%417,030
83Merced County CA8.1%125,119
84Kings County CA8.1%59,560
85Tulare County CA9.8%217,383
86Imperial County CA20.8%76,185

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 west coast?
Chelan County has the lowest unemployment rate in the West Coast among large counties: 3.1%, against 5.0% for the typical large county.
How many counties are ranked?
86 counties have at least 20,000 people in the labor force, so the list has 86 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

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Counties with the lowest unemployment in the West Coast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-the-west-coast

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/counties-with-the-lowest-unemployment-in-the-west-coast">Counties with the lowest unemployment in the West Coast (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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