Pend Oreille County profile

Pend Oreille County is known for its stunning natural landscapes and outdoor recreational opportunities. The city of Newport serves as both the county seat and the largest city in Pend Oreille County.

The county spans 1,425 square miles, including 24 square miles of water. Its terrain features forests, mountains and several lakes and rivers, offering abundant recreational activities such as hiking, fishing and camping.

Pend Oreille County was created out of Stevens County in 1911 and is named after the Pend d'Oreilles Native American tribe.

Washington has 12 regional Workforce Development Areas. Pend Oreille County is part of Area 10, the Eastern Washington Partnership. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the workforce regions.

Pend Oreille employment situation for August 2025

Monthly labor force and unemployment

• The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5% during August 2025, down from 5.7% in August 2024.
• The labor force decreased by 191 workers from August 2024 to August 2025.
• The total employment decreased by 170 workers from August 2024 to August 2025.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics

Monthly nonfarm payroll employment in Pend Oreille

• As of August 2025, total nonfarm employment in Pend Oreille County was 3,180 jobs. Total jobs increased by 20 jobs over the month but decreased by 90 jobs from August 2024.
• Private sectors, with 1,490 jobs, increased by 20 jobs over the month but decreased by 40 jobs from August 2024 to August 2025.
• Goods producing sectors, with 320 jobs, remained unchanged over the month and increased by 30 jobs from August 2024.
  • Mining, logging and construction remained unchanged over the month but increased by 30 jobs from August 2024.
• Service providing sectors, with 2,850 jobs, increased by 10 jobs over the month but decreased by 120 jobs from August 2024.
  • Retail trade, with 220 jobs, remained unchanged over the month but decreased by 10 jobs over the year.
  • Professional and business services, with 200 jobs, remained unchanged over the month but decreased by 20 jobs over the year.
  • Private education and health services, with 280 jobs, increased by 20 jobs over the month but decreased by 10 jobs over the year.
  • Leisure and hospitality, with 240 jobs, remained unchanged over the month but decreased by 20 jobs over the year.
• Government services, including public educational services, totaled 1,690 jobs, increased 10 jobs over the month but decreased 50 jobs from August 2024. Local government accounts for nearly all the job decrease over the year.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Pend Oreille County

NAICS Industry Title	Aug 2025 (Prelim)	Jul 2025 (Revised)	Aug 2024 (Revised)	Jul 2025 to Aug 2025 Change	Aug 2024 to Aug 2025 Change	Aug 2024 to Aug 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm	3,180	3,160	3,270	20	-90	-2.8%
Total private (total nonfarm less government)	1,490	1,470	1,530	20	-40	-2.6%
Goods-producing	320	320	290	0	30	10.3%
- Mining and logging	90	90	60	0	30	50.0%
- Construction	160	160	160	0	0	0.0%
- Manufacturing	70	70	70	0	0	0.0%
Service-providing	2,850	2,840	2,970	10	-120	-4.0%
- Wholesale trade	10	10	10	0	0	0.0%
- Retail trade	220	220	230	0	-10	-4.3%
- Transportation, warehousing, and utilities	40	40	40	0	0	0.0%
- Information	30	30	40	0	-10	-25.0%
- Financial activities	90	90	90	0	0	0.0%
- Professional and business services	200	200	220	0	-20	-9.1%
- Private education and health services	280	260	290	20	-10	-3.4%
- Leisure and hospitality	240	240	260	0	-20	-7.7%
- Other services	50	50	50	0	0	0.0%
- Government	1,690	1,680	1,740	10	-50	-2.9%

Note: Data benchmarked through March 2025, updated September 15, 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.

Total covered employment

Employment by industry, Pend Oreille County 2024 annual average

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)

The average annual covered employment in Pend Oreille County was 3,194 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.

Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Washington state for all industries was $92,467 in 2024. The average annual wage in Pend Oreille was $63,130 during 2024.

Top sectors by employment during 2024:

• Government (1,710)
• Healthcare and social assistance (275)
• Retail trade (242)
• Accommodation and food services (236)
• Construction (153)

Top five sectors by average annual earnings during 2024:

• Professional, scientific and technical services ($115,522)
• Administrative and waste services ($112,787)
• Other ($86,653)
• Government ($71,828)
• Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting ($70,949)

Workforce demographics in Pend Oreille County

The labor force participation rate is highest among the 25 to 29 years age group at 86.5%, while the 65-74 age group has the lowest at 16.6%. Participation rate for labor force prime working population 20 to 64 years of age was 65.4%.

Male workers have a slightly higher participation rate (71.1%) compared to female workers (59.2%). Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher have the highest participation rate at 71.5%, while those with less than a high school diploma have the lowest at 39.3%.

Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for more quick facts about Pend Oreille County.

Age

Demographic characteristic	Total	Labor force participation rate	Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over	11,508	47.0%	6.7%
16 to 19 years	558	45.5%	22.0%
20 to 24 years	828	62.8%	8.5%
25 to 29 years	533	86.5%	5.2%
30 to 34 years	701	70.8%	4.8%
35 to 44 years	1,309	79.8%	6.6%
45 to 54 years	1,523	71.0%	6.4%
55 to 59 years	1,230	50.1%	4.9%
60 to 64 years	1,097	45.5%	9.4%
65 to 74 years	2,417	16.6%	0.0%
75 years and over	1,312	2.7%	0.0%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic	Total	Labor force participation rate	Unemployment rate
White alone	10,147	45.1%	7.0%
Black or African American alone	17	29.4%	0.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone	210	43.3%	3.3%
Asian alone	46	15.2%	0.0%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone	25	100.0%	0.0%
Some other race alone	195	53.3%	0.0%
Two or more races	868	69.2%	6.8%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race)	405	44.7%	15.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino	10,079	45.3%	7.0%
Population 20 to 64 years	7,221	65.4%	6.5%

Sex

Demographic characteristic	Total	Labor force participation rate	Unemployment rate
Male	3,712	71.1%	9.0%
Female	3,509	59.2%	3.4%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic	Total	Labor force participation rate	Unemployment rate
With own children under 18	1,039	68.2%	1.7%
With own children under 6 only	253	83.8%	1.4%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17	176	63.6%	0.0%
With own children 6 to 17 only	610	63.1%	2.3%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic	Total	Labor force participation rate	Unemployment rate
Below poverty level	1,201	37.1%	19.5%
At or above the poverty level	5,970	71.6%	5.1%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic	Total	Labor force participation rate	Unemployment rate
With any disability	1,302	30.3%	8.4%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic	Total	Labor force participation rate	Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years	6,393	65.7%	6.3%
Less than high school graduate	336	39.3%	5.3%
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	2,294	65.5%	10.2%
Some college or associate's degree	2,586	66.6%	3.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher	1,177	71.5%	5.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status 

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