OLYMPIA — Grant County’s nonfarm employment increased for 14 consecutive months, April 2021 to May 2022, and the labor force expanded from June 2021 to May 2022. How long the growth will continue is uncertain, however, according to an analysis from the Washington Employment Security Department.

Regional labor economist Don Meseck wrote that the lingering COVID-19 pandemic could have an effect on the job market in a report issued July 10.

“The effects of rising interest rates on national and local labor markets are also a concern,” Meseck wrote.

Even with uncertainties, Meseck wrote that analysts are projecting employment will increase at about a 1% annual rate in the period 2019-29 for the five counties — Grant, Okanogan, Adams, Douglas and Chelan — in the North Central Workforce Development Area.

The analysts looked at economic trends in Grant County from 2011 to 2021. In that time, the professional and business services sector grew at the fastest pace and added the second-highest number of jobs. The sector includes legal and accounting services, engineering and related fields, computer science, management services and consulting services, among others.

“Professional and business services netted 861 more jobs countywide in 2021 (1,214 jobs) than in 2011 (353 jobs),” Meseck wrote.

One economic sector gained more jobs, and that was healthcare and social assistance. However, in 2014 some workers were reclassified into the healthcare sector, Meseck wrote. Comparing the healthcare and social assistance sector between 2014 and 2021 shows that it gained 181 jobs between 2014 and 2021.

Agriculture has traditionally played an important role in Grant County’s economy, and it continues to play a big role, although not as big as it used to.

“In 2011 Grant County’s agricultural industry accounted for 25% of total covered employment, but by 2021 agricultural employment accounted for 23.1% of total covered employment,” he wrote.

Grant County ag employment was highest in 2014, but declined from there.

“There are at least three possibilities for this slow and steady seven-year decline in agricultural employment countywide: automation, the gradual conversion of some seasonal agricultural jobs to year-round positions, and the increased use of H2A agricultural labor,” Meseck wrote.

However, agriculture is still critical to the county’s economy.

“The National Agricultural Statistics Service 2017 Census of Agriculture stated that 20% of Washington’s agricultural sales, with a market value of $1.94 billion, were generated in Grant County,” Meseck wrote.

Overall, wages went up during the 10-year period. Local government experienced the highest payroll growth, a sector that includes public hospitals and clinics, schools, police and fire departments, county and city employees, among others. The second-highest payroll growth was in the professional and business services sector.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].