Thurston County, WA jobs, unemployment and layoffs
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Show me jobs near meThurston County economy
3.4%
unemployment, Sep 2026
3.9% the month before
144,060
in the labor force
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
296,640
people in Thurston County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
$93,985
median household income
Source: Census ACS
45%
of workers in white-collar occupations
Management, business, financial and professional; Census ACS
Where Thurston County ranks
Where Thurston County placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #4Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Pacific Northwest3.4% · of 43
- #4Counties with the lowest unemployment in the West Coast3.4% · of 86
- #6Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Pacific Northwest22% · of 30
- #7Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in the Pacific Northwest45% · of 43
- #9Fastest-growing job markets in the Pacific Northwest+2.4% · of 23
- #14Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the West Coast22% · of 68
Thurston 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 2.4% from 2022 to 2025
- Population up 2.8% from 2020 to 2025
- Unemployment 3.4%, down 0.5 points from a year ago
- Sectors adding the most jobs: health care (+1,358 jobs), transportation & warehousing (+743 jobs)
- Sectors losing the most jobs: retail (−459 jobs), construction (−402 jobs)
Local job-market news
Recent headlines about layoffs, AI and jobs in Thurston County. Each link goes to the publisher.
- Comcast is cutting jobs in Olympia, Puyallup and elsewhere in WA, notice saysThe Olympian (TCA) on MSN · Oct 29, 2026
- In an age of news deserts and ghost papers, what’s next for McClatchy?KUOW · Oct 15, 2026
- WA representatives say there's no extra money to keep Olympia schools from closingThe Olympian on MSN · Oct 11, 2026
Learn and get funded in Thurston 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.
Thurston County layoffs
1
Layoff notices, last 12 months
3
workers named
A floor: states may leave out counts
1
employer
| Notice date | Employer | City or county | Workers | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence Health & ServicesTakes effect Nov 18, 2026 | Olympia | 3 | Layoff | State record |
Employers hiring most in Thurston 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.
- Michels5 open roles
- State of Washington5 open roles
- Esri4 open roles
- Brookdale Senior Living2 open roles
- Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology2 open roles
- Penske Truck Leasing2 open roles
- Penske Truck Leasing / Penske Logistics2 open roles
- Thurston County Public Works2 open roles
- Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission2 open roles
- Accurate Personnel1 open role
Colleges in Thurston County
| College | City | Type | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | Private non-profit 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
| The Evergreen State College | Olympia | Public 4-year | 1,000–4,999 |
Job fairs and business events in Thurston County
Hiring events, career workshops and business events in and around Thurston County.
- Starting a businessNov 9, 2026 · Lacey, WA
Women Presidents Organization Launch
Economic development: Thurston County ADO
- Starting a businessNov 9, 2026 · Lacey, WA
Women Presidents Organization Launch
Economic development: Thurston Economic Development Council
- Starting a businessDec 9, 2026 · Centralia, WA
Regional Economic Forecast & Innovation EXPO
Economic development: Thurston Economic Development Council
- Starting a businessDec 9, 2026 · Centralia, WA
Regional Economic Forecast & Innovation EXPO
Economic development: Thurston County ADO
- Pitch eventFeb 18, 2027 · Lacey, WA
Local Procurement Symposium Thurston County 2027
Economic development: Thurston Economic Development Council
- Pitch eventFeb 18, 2027 · Lacey, WA
Local Procurement Symposium Thurston County 2027
Economic development: Thurston County ADO
Workforce development and job centers
The public workforce board and American Job Centers serving Thurston County. They offer free help with job search, training and filing for benefits.
Laid off in Washington? How to file for unemployment in Washington (steps, weekly amount and the appeal deadline).
- Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Thurston
WorkSource Thurston County
Lacey · Comprehensive · 360-704-6443
Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Cities in Thurston County
Other Washington counties
Laid off or looking for work in Thurston 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 Washington’s published record; job counts from our live job board; IPEDS for colleges; CareerOneStop for workforce boards and job centers. Washington unemployment benefits and severance rules.
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