Washington County’s labor force is talented and growing. Between 2020 and 2030, it is projected that the population of 25 to 34-year-olds living in the county will grow by 65 percent. Businesses locating here can tap into that growing population. In addition, there are over 100,000 people leaving the county for work every day - 100,000 people that could be working for companies moving to Washington County.
The Numbers
According to the Minnesota State Demographic Center, Washington County had an estimated population of 261,512 people in 2018. As such, Washington County is Minnesota’s 5th most-populated county.
Between 2017 and 2018, Washington County’s population expanded by 1.8 percent, adding 4,607 people. This made it Minnesota’s 5th largest- and 3rd-fastest growing county during that period of time. For reference, Minnesota’s population expanded by 0.9 percent between 2017 and 2018, adding 51,929 people.
Between 2008 and 2018, Washington County’s population expanded by 11.6 percent, adding 27,164 people. This made it Minnesota’s 4th largest- and 7th-fastest growing county during that period of time. For reference, Minnesota population expanded by 6.5 percent between 2008 and 2018, adding 341,440 people.
There has not been one year since 1990 where Washington County’s population declined over the previous year. Since 1990, annual population growth in Washington County has averaged 2.1 percent, equivalent to 4,129 people per year.
According to the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), Washington County’s total labor force equaled 141,974 people in 2018. The county’s labor force grew by 12,652 people between 2008 and 2018, averaging 1.0 percent annual growth.
Washington County Industry Employment Statistics, 2015
| NAICS Industry Title |
Number of Firms |
Number of Jobs |
Percent of Jobs |
Total Payroll |
Avg. Annual Wage |
| Total, All Industries |
5,231 |
79,112 |
100.0% |
$3,478,314,461 |
$43,992 |
| Retail Trade |
684 |
13,051 |
16.5% |
$328,820,246 |
$25,168 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance |
546 |
11,408 |
14.4% |
$550,298,480 |
$48,204 |
| Accommodation & Food Services |
383 |
8,949 |
11.3% |
$146,562,210 |
$16,328 |
| Manufacturing |
203 |
7,990 |
10.1% |
$510,327,272 |
$63,908 |
| Educational Services |
139 |
7,330 |
9.3% |
$315,013,496 |
$42,796 |
| Public Administration |
54 |
3,617 |
4.6% |
$187,901,224 |
$51,896 |
| Construction |
516 |
3,338 |
4.2% |
$194,695,496 |
$58,292 |
| Finance & Insurance |
337 |
3,306 |
4.2% |
$250,901,273 |
$75,868 |
| Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services |
643 |
3,177 |
4.0% |
$207,917,173 |
$65,312 |
| Administrative & Support Services |
268 |
3,135 |
4.0% |
$142,493,483 |
$45,552 |
| Other Services |
578 |
3,074 |
3.9% |
$79,404,718 |
$25,792 |
| Transportation & Warehousing |
138 |
2,584 |
3.3% |
$109,423,567 |
$42,276 |
| Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation |
123 |
2,121 |
2.7% |
$34,322,013 |
$16,172 |
| Wholesale Trade |
203 |
1,957 |
2.5% |
$142,004,378 |
$72,540 |
| Management of Companies |
43 |
1,503 |
1.9% |
$160,012,587 |
$107,016 |
| Real Estate, Rental & Leasing |
258 |
790 |
1.9% |
$29,425,257 |
$37,180 |
| Agriculture |
44 |
712 |
0.9% |
$24,859,143 |
$35,048 |
| Information |
60 |
699 |
0.9% |
$25,318,426 |
$36,244 |
| Utilities |
7 |
298 |
0.4% |
$33,628,441 |
$112,788 |
Source: DEED Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)
