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September 2026 highlights
Updated October 2026
Compared to August 2026, the unemployment rate decreased from 5.2% to 4.0% (1,878 unemployed individuals). Employers reported 100 more jobs on payrolls (for a total of 42,000 jobs).
Cowlitz County's labor market highlights
- Timber and wood products have historically been a large part of Cowlitz County’s economy. The industry has declined statewide as paper and pulp mills have consolidated but is still a major employer in Longview. One such firm, Nippon Dynawave, halted production as of May 2026 following a deadly chemical tank implosion.
- Manufacturing is the largest industry in the county. Paper and wood products make up the bulk of employment, with food manufacturing following closely behind.
- The county is well connected to road, rail and maritime transportation, making it an important trade hub. The highest average annual wages in the county are in the transportation and warehousing industry.
Contact Cowlitz County's labor economist
Emily Robertson, Southwest coastal region
- Email Emily: emily.robertson@esd.wa.gov
- Call Emily: 360-463-7813
Cowlitz County is part of the Southwest Workforce Development Area. Visit the workforce board’s website for information about Washington’s 12 workforce regions.
Cowlitz County is known as the Longview Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Employment updates for September 2026
Changes to the labor force and unemployment
The September 2026 unemployment rate was 4.0% in Cowlitz County, 4.3% in Washington state and 4.0% in the United States.
| Measure | September 2026 | August 2026 | September 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participant (labor force) | 46,732 | 47,219 | 47,361 |
| Employed persons | 44,854 | 44,746 | 45,165 |
| Persons seeking work | 1,878 | 2,473 | 2,196 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 5.2% | 4.6% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS)
Cowlitz County unemployment rate, January 2024 to September 2026
Cowlitz County's unemployment rate tends to be slightly higher than both the statewide rate and the rate in neighboring Clark County.
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5.8% | 6.4% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 4.9% | 4.4% | 5.2% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
|
5.5% | 6.2% | 5.4% | 4.9% | 5.0% | 4.3% | 5.1% | 5.4% | 4.6% | N/A | 5.7% | 6.2% |
|
6.0% | 6.0% | 5.9% | 5.7% | 5.4% | 5.0% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 4.0% |
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Local area unemployment statistics (LAUS). BLS canceled October 2025's unemployment publications.
Key changes in payroll employment
This includes all employees with paid positions tracked in a company’s payroll system. This doesn’t include agriculture jobs or jobs outside of formal payroll such as freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals. Numbers in this section are estimates generated by a monthly survey.
In September 2026, Cowlitz County had 42,000 jobs.
Compared with August 2026, September employment increased by 100 jobs.
- 11,500 goods-producing jobs, which is unchanged.
- 100 more service-providing jobs. The largest increase was in government.
Compared with September 2025, this September’s employment was down by 300 (0.7%) jobs.
- 400 (5.0%) fewer trade, transportation, and utilities jobs.
- 100 (1.5%) fewer government jobs.
- 200 (5.6%) more leisure and hospitality jobs.
Employment estimates for Cowlitz County
See a snapshot of this month's data below. A detailed spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted is on the source page of our site.
Total jobs
| Industry sector | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Aug. 2026 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 42,000 | 41,900 | 42,300 | 100 | -300 | -0.7% |
| - Private | 35,600 | 35,700 | 35,800 | -100 | -200 | -0.6% |
| - Government | 6,400 | 6,200 | 6,500 | 200 | -100 | -1.5% |
Goods-producing jobs
| Industry sector | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Aug. 2026 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods-producing | 11,500 | 11,500 | 11,500 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Mining, logging and construction | 4,100 | 4,100 | 4,100 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Manufacturing | 7,400 | 7,400 | 7,400 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
Service-providing jobs
| Industry sector | Sep. 2026 | Aug. 2026 | Sep. 2025 | Aug. 2026 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 |
Sep. 2025 to Sep. 2026 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service-providing | 30,500 | 30,400 | 30,800 | 100 | -300 | -1.0% |
| - Trade, transportation, and utilities | 7,600 | 7,600 | 8,000 | 0 | -400 | -5.0% |
| - - Retail trade | 4,900 | 4,900 | 4,900 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| - Professional and business services | 2,000 | 2,100 | 2,500 | -100 | -500 | -20.0% |
| - Private education and health services | 7,100 | 7,100 | 7,000 | 0 | 100 | 1.4% |
| - Leisure and hospitality | 3,800 | 3,900 | 3,600 | -100 | 200 | 5.6% |
| - Government | 6,400 | 6,200 | 6,500 | 200 | -100 | -1.5% |
Note: Data benchmarked through March 2026, updated October 14, 2026. The current month’s data is preliminary. Analysts continue to refine past months as more related information becomes available. Industry columns use North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry titles. Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Employment details for industries and sectors
This profile section uses Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) data.
This quarterly census data includes both agricultural and nonagricultural employment and wages for firms, organizations and individuals with employees covered by the Washington State Employment Security Act. Covered employment refers to the total number of employees with this type of coverage.
Top sectors by employment
2025’s annual average was 41,074 total covered employees.
- Manufacturing - 7,283 jobs.
- Government - 6,617 jobs.
- Healthcare and social assistance - 6,595 jobs.
- Retail trade - 4,836 jobs.
- Construction - 3,312 jobs.
Top sectors by wages
2025’s annual average wage was $70,047 for covered employees.
- Transportation and warehousing - $130,643.
- Construction - $95,409.
- Mining - $93,378.
- Information - $92,515.
- Finance and insurance - $90,061.
2025 annual average employment by industry
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Covered Employment (QCEW
Workforce demographics for Cowlitz County
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 90,051 | 56.7% | 5.9% |
| 16 to 19 years | 5,216 | 40.0% | 24.0% |
| 20 to 24 years | 5,889 | 75.3% | 6.8% |
| 25 to 29 years | 6,808 | 83.8% | 6.2% |
| 30 to 34 years | 7,480 | 78.3% | 4.7% |
| 35 to 44 years | 13,988 | 80.1% | 4.5% |
| 45 to 54 years | 13,455 | 76.2% | 4.3% |
| 55 to 59 years | 6,827 | 71.3% | 5.1% |
| 60 to 64 years | 8,158 | 47.9% | 6.9% |
| 65 to 74 years | 13,167 | 18.0% | 3.8% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 76,691 | 55.7% | 5.0% |
| Black or African American alone | 576 | 57.3% | 33.3% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 1,132 | 58.6% | 20.8% |
| Asian alone | 1,236 | 52.6% | 2.3% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone | 318 | 67.3% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 2,348 | 75.2% | 9.1% |
| Two or more races | 7,750 | 61.8% | 9.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 7,735 | 75.2% | 9.1% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 74,157 | 54.9% | 5.1% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 62,605 | 73.9% | 5.2% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 31,532 | 78.6% | 3.7% |
| Female | 31,073 | 69.1% | 6.8% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 years | 10,538 | 72.3% | 8.2% |
| With own children under 6 years only | 2,249 | 64.2% | 7.2% |
| With own children under 6 years and 6 to 17 years | 2,279 | 59.5% | 3.5% |
| With own children 6 to 17 years only | 6,010 | 80.3% | 9.8% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 7,851 | 38.9% | 17.6% |
| At or above the poverty level | 54,512 | 79.2% | 4.3% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 11,877 | 51.5% | 13.9% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate |
Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 56,716 | 73.7% | 5.0% |
| Less than high school graduate | 6,031 | 64.8% | 7.5% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 17,826 | 68.2% | 4.2% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 23,195 | 77.7% | 5.6% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9,664 | 80.0% | 3.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024: ACS 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status
Funding
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, expressed or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.