Washington County, MN jobs, unemployment and layoffs
Independent page. Not from or affiliated with the State of Minnesota.
Looking for work in Minnesota? See where you stand.
Not sure you match what employers here are hiring for? Get a free read on your fit, the jobs open near you and a plan for the weeks ahead.
Show me jobs near meWashington County economy
4.3%
unemployment, Sep 2026
3.3% the month before
152,258
in the labor force
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
272,298
people in Washington County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
$114,457
median household income
Source: Census ACS
52%
of workers in white-collar occupations
Management, business, financial and professional; Census ACS
Where Washington County ranks
Where Washington County placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #9Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in the Great Lakes52% · of 100
- #11Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in the Midwest52% · of 100
- #19Fastest-growing job markets in the Great Lakes+5.0% · of 100
- #25Fastest-growing job markets in the Midwest+5.0% · of 100
Washington County outlook: Steady
Built from public Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census figures. It describes the area, not any one employer in it.
- Private-sector jobs up 5.0% from 2022 to 2025
- Population up 6.9% from 2020 to 2025
- Unemployment 4.3%, up 1.0 points from a year ago
- Sectors adding the most jobs: health care (+2,604 jobs), manufacturing (+565 jobs)
- Sectors losing the most jobs: retail (−749 jobs), finance & insurance (−501 jobs)
Learn and get funded in Washington County
- Which AI skills each kind of job asks for, with the pay premium.
- Your local workforce board and American Job Centers: training vouchers and re-employment help.
- Grants and funding for job seekers, ranked for your state and situation.
- Unemployment benefits by state, if you are between jobs.
Washington County layoffs
No layoff notices naming Washington County in the last 12 months are on file. The WARN Act covers employers with 100 or more workers, so smaller layoffs are not in it.
Employers hiring most in Washington County
Employers with the most open professional roles in this county’s cities. The county is taken from each job’s city, so roles with no city are not counted.
- GPAC5 open roles
- GEA4 open roles
- Old National Bank4 open roles
- Purpose Brands4 open roles
- United Natural Foods (UNFI)4 open roles
- Bluestone2 open roles
- Kwik Trip2 open roles
- Presbyterian Homes & Services2 open roles
- Ulta Beauty2 open roles
- AccentCare1 open role
Workforce development and job centers
The public workforce board and American Job Centers serving Washington County. They offer free help with job search, training and filing for benefits.
Laid off in Minnesota? How to file for unemployment in Minnesota (steps, weekly amount and the appeal deadline).
CareerForce in Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove · Affiliate · 651-430-4162
M-F 8am - 4:30 pm (Call before visit; Appointments in-person, via phone, and virtually)
CareerForce in Woodbury
Woodbury · Comprehensive · 651-275-8650
M-F 8am-4:30pm
Cities in Washington County
Other Minnesota counties
Laid off or looking for work in Washington County?
See what to do first and the jobs open near you.
See your options after a layoffSources: Census Bureau and BLS (county unemployment is not seasonally adjusted); layoff notices from Minnesota’s published record; job counts from our live job board; IPEDS for colleges; CareerOneStop for workforce boards and job centers. Minnesota unemployment benefits and severance rules.
Applying and hearing nothing back?
Find out where you stand: your odds, the jobs that fit you and a plan for the week ahead. Free. No résumé needed.
Already a member? Log in
Job seekers in Washington County looking to you for help, or openings you cannot fill?
Leave your work email. We'll send how organizations use NextChapter to reach job seekers in Washington County.