Cowlitz County profile

Learn about Cowlitz County's unique labor market information and more.

Posted June 2025

May 2025 highlights

In May, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.6% to 4.9% and total nonfarm employment decreased by 400 jobs.

Summary

Timber and wood products have historically been a large part of Cowlitz County’s economy. The industry has declined statewide as paper mills have consolidated, but several firms are still operating in Longview. Manufacturing is Cowlitz County’s top industry, and it provides some of the area’s highest wages.

Since the pandemic, nonfarm employment in Cowlitz County has recovered and even surpassed its pre-COVID-19 levels. Employment growth has been slow but steady, though the unemployment rate is consistently higher than the statewide rate.

Location

A dark blue map of Washington state with Cowlitz County highlighted in orange.

 

Cowlitz County is in the southwest region of Washington, along the Columbia River. It borders the larger Clark County in the south, and in many ways is an extension of the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro employment base. The region is well connected, located along the Interstate 5 corridor and with major ports to maritime traffic.

Longview is the area’s largest city, and the county comprises the Longview, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

Cowlitz County, along with neighboring Clark and Wahkiakum counties, is part of Washington’s seventh Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 regions.

Employment situation for May 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9% in May 2025, up from 4.6% in the previous month and down from 5.0% in May 2024.

  • The total civilian labor force was 46,010 in May 2025, down from 47,176 in May 2024.

  • The number of unemployed persons was 2,276 in May 2025, 79 fewer than in May 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

A chart showing the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the United States, Washington and Cowlitz County from January 2015 to May 2025.

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics

Payroll employment

  • Total nonfarm employment was 42,300 in May 2025, not seasonally adjusted. This was down by 400 jobs from the previous month, and down by 100 jobs (0.2%) from May 2024.

  • Over the year, goods producing industries lost 300 jobs (2.7%) and service providing industries added 200 jobs (0.6%).

  • The largest increase over the year was in private education and health service (up 600 jobs), followed by government (up 200 jobs).

  • The largest decreases over the year were in manufacturing, professional and business services, and in leisure and hospitality, which each fell by 400 jobs.

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Cowlitz County

NAICS Industry Title May 2025 (Prelim) Apr 2025 (Revised) May 2024 (Revised) Apr 2025 to May 2025 Change May 2024 to May 2025 Change May 2024 to May 2025 % Change
Total nonfarm 42,300 42,700 42,400 -400 -100 -0.2%
Total private (total nonfarm less government) 35,500 36,000 35,800 -500 -300 -0.8%
Goods-producing 11,000 11,500 11,300 -500 -300 -2.7%
- Mining, logging and construction 4,100 4,100 4,000 0 100 2.5%
- Manufacturing 6,900 7,400 7,300 -500 -400 -5.5%
Service-providing 31,300 31,200 31,100 100 200 0.6%
- Trade, transportation, and utilities 7,700 7,600 7,800 100 -100 -1.3%
- - Retail trade 5,000 4,900 5,100 100 -100 -2.0%
- Professional and business services 2,600 2,600 3,000 0 -400 -13.3%
- Private education and health services 7,500 7,200 6,900 300 600 8.7%
- Leisure and hospitality 3,300 3,300 3,700 0 -400 -10.8%
- Government 6,800 6,700 6,600 100 200 3.0%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024, updated June 18, 2025. 
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Detailed tables can be found on the source page in the third spreadsheet titled Current employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted.

Industry employment (covered employment)

Cowlitz County has a strong manufacturing presence, both in terms of overall employment as well as average annual wages. Another important sector is trade, transportation and warehousing, due to the county’s location on Interstate 5 and the Columbia River. Within the service providing sector, health care and social assistance continues to be a major employer in the region.

Employment by industry, Cowlitz County 2023 annual average

A bar graph showing the 2023 annual average industry employment in Cowlitz County.

Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)

Note: ND stands for not disclosed. ND is used to avoid disclosing data for individual employers. Industries labeled ND are grouped in the Not elsewhere classified category.

Average annual covered employment in Cowlitz County was 41,108 in 2023. Covered employment refers to workers who received wages in Washington state and are eligible for state and federal unemployment insurance (UI) compensation programs.

Top five sectors in terms of employment in 2023:

  • Manufacturing (7,371)
  • Government (6,448)
  • Health care and social assistance (6,250)
  • Retail trade (5,030)
  • Accommodation and food services (3,311)

Wages can vary substantially from one industry sector to another. The average annual wage in Cowlitz County for all industries was $64,444 in 2023.

Top five sectors in terms of wage in 2023:

  • Transportation and warehousing ($131,166)
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services ($90,323)
  • Mining ($87,657)
  • Manufacturing ($82,429)
  • Finance and insurance ($80,297)

Workforce demographics for Cowlitz County

Cowlitz County has a working age population of approximately 90,000. Labor force participation is lower than the state average, due to an aging workforce. Employment status varies slightly across demographic groups. Compared to men, women have lower labor force participation (66.4% vs. 76.4%) and higher unemployment (6.7% vs. 3.2%). About 58% of the population aged 25 to 64 has some college education. Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for quick facts about Cowlitz County.

Age

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 16 years and over 89,190 55.3% 5.1%
16 to 19 years 5,135 42.2% 16.4%
20 to 24 years 6,068 75.3% 7.7%
25 to 29 years 6,808 80.2% 5.8%
30 to 34 years 7,386 76.1% 4.4%
35 to 44 years 13,610 78.0% 4.5%
45 to 54 years 13,279 74.3% 3.9%
55 to 59 years 7,380 63.3% 3.8%
60 to 64 years 7,762 47.4% 5.3%
65 to 74 years 13,087 17.8% 1.5%
75 years and over 8,675 3.9% 0.0%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
White alone 77,309 54.8% 4.9%
Black or African American alone 606 69.0% 17.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 962 53.0% 22.2%
Asian alone 1,203 45.6% 1.6%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone 248 48.4% 0.0%
Some other race alone 2,165 67.8% 8.7%
Two or more races 6,697 58.3% 3.9%
Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) 7,358 72.0% 4.4%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 74,336 53.9% 5.1%
Population 20 to 64 years 62,293 71.4% 4.8%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Male 31,272 76.4% 3.2%
Female 31,021 66.4% 6.7%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With own children under 18 10,655 69.0% 6.7%
With own children under 6 only 2,205 62.4% 1.6%
With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 2,285 59.5% 3.9%
With own children 6 to 17 only 6,165 74.9% 9.0%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Below poverty level 8,376 34.5% 19.3%
At or above the poverty level 53,639 77.6% 3.8%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
With any disability 11,424 41.6% 12.4%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Population 25 to 64 years 56,225 71.0% 4.5%
Less than high school graduate 6,018 57.8% 7.1%
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 17,481 65.7% 3.9%
Some college or associate's degree 23,669 76.1% 5.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher 9,057 76.7% 2.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status

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