Thurston County jobless rate falls to 4.8 percent in January

The labor market got off to a positive start in the opening month of 2025, as the number of employed people climbed amid a beefed up workforce in the Olympia-Tumwater Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The end result was a decrease in the unemployment rate to 4.8 percent in January from 5.1 percent in January 2024, according to monthly data from the Washington Employment Security Department, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and local area unemployment statistics.

The January 2025 data is preliminary and subject to revision, while the January 2024 data has been revised.

The data also showed the labor force increased to 145,823 in January from 143,354 in January 2024. That marked a gain of 1.72 percent in the period.

At the same time, the number of employed people rose to 138,846 from 136,104. That marked an increase of 2.01 percent. Meanwhile, the number of jobless people slipped 3.76 percent to 6,977 in January from 7,250 in January 2024.

The unemployment rate in the Olympia-Tumwater Metropolitan Statistical Area (Thurston County) was among the 10 lowest in the state to start the year.  

Asotin and Whitman counties posted the lowest jobless rates at 3.9 percent in January, while Ferry County, whose labor force stood at 2,363 in January, was the highest at 9.4 percent.

Statewide, the unemployment rate measured 4.7 percent in January, down from 5.0 percent in January 2024. At the same time, the national jobless rate increased to 4.1 percent from 3.7 percent.