Labor Force
Washington County’s population includes a talented, engaged and growing labor force. As of 2023, it has the fifth-largest population of all Minnesota counties but has experienced the most growth of the Top Five since 2010, per U.S. Census County Population Estimates.
Highlights of the 2023 Washington County Labor Demand & Supply Study are illustrated below.
Supply Summary
- Washington County is home to an estimated 277,283 residents of all ages as of 2022, growing by 21,566 over the last five years and is projected to grow by 23,061 over the next five years. That growth of the local population is expected to be higher than most other parts of Minnesota at about 1.1% growth annually and about 7.7% of the total population growth forecast for the entire state of Minnesota.
- A total of 99,098 workers are employed in Washington County, which is approximately 5% of the total Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Area workforce.
- The largest adult age cohorts in Washington County’s population are between 45-54 and 55-64, suggesting a local population approaching retirement age.
- Of Washington County’s population aged 25 and older, 96% have a high school degree, while 47% have a Bachelor's degree or higher.
- Washington County has just under 100,000 housing units, with a median value of $301,000, above the statewide median of $235,700. Homeowner vacancy rates are at 0.6% or about 486 total vacant homesteaded units.
Demand Summary
- 2021 Washington County nominal GDP expanded 12.2% to $12,119,877,000, with Manufacturing, Real Estate, Healthcare and Social Assistance and Retail Trade as the leading contributors.
- Employment outlook for Washington County is strong, with an estimated average annual growth of 0.8% over the next five years.
- Washington County has a net migration of -50,742 workers, with approximately 55,316 workers commuting into and approximately 106,058 residents commuting out of Washington County.
- The industry with the highest forecast growth rate over the next ten years in Washington County is the Information Industry (22.3%), followed by Accommodation and Food Services (19.3%).
- All sixteen career clusters forecast growth in Washington County over the next ten years. Human Services, Hospitality and Tourism and Health Science careers will likely see the most significant overall positive change in employment volume.
- The Detailed Occupation Forecast indicates General and Operations Managers and Software Developers are expected to add the most jobs over the next ten years in Washington County.
Washington County, Minnesota, 2022 Q3*
*Source: Chmura JobsEQ 2022Q3 Dataset. Industries not shown: 21-Mining, 99-Unclassified