Posted March 2025
Summary
Lewis County is a large, centrally located county in southwest Washington. It is a gateway between lumber producing regions and major transportation routes. Wood product manufacturing is a major industry. In recent years, Lewis County has also become a major center of trade, transportation and warehousing. Other major industries include government, health care and social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation and food services.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate in Lewis County hit a peak of 17.2%. In subsequent years unemployment has improved, though it still tends to be higher than the statewide average.
Location
Lewis County is located in southwest Washington. It is well connected along Interstate 5, and shares borders with eight neighboring counties. These are Grays Harbor, Thurston, and Pierce counties to the north, Yakima to the east, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz and Skamania to the south, and Pacific to to the west.
Lewis County ‘s largest city is Centralia. The county is part of the Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Area. Visit the Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board website for information about the 12 workforce regions.
Employment situation for January 2025
Labor force and unemployment
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The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4% in January 2025, up from 6.1% in the previous month but down from 6.7% in January 2024.
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The total civilian labor force was 33,581 in January 2025, down from 33,616 in January 2024.
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There were 2,152 unemployed persons in January 2025, 102 fewer than in January 2024.
Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Local area unemployment statistics
Payroll employment
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Total nonfarm employment was 26,620 in January 2025, not seasonally adjusted. This was down by 440 from the previous month but up by 320 (1.2%) from January 2024.
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Over the year, employment increased in six industries, decreased in five industries, and was unchanged in two industries.
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The largest year over year increases were in leisure and hospitality (250 jobs), professional and business services (100 jobs), and construction (60 jobs).
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The largest year over year decreases were in education and health services (down 150 jobs) and retail trade (down 50 jobs).
Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Lewis County
| NAICS Industry Title | Jan 2025 (Preliminary) | Dec 2024 (Revised) | Jan 2024 (Revised) | Dec 2024 to Jan 2025 change | Jan 2024 to Jan 2025 change | Jan 2024 to Jan 2025 % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Nonfarm | 26,620 | 27,060 | 26,300 | -440 | 320 | 1.2% |
| --Total Private | 21,960 | 22,370 | 21,680 | -410 | 280 | 1.3% |
| ---Goods Producing | 4,930 | 5,050 | 4,840 | -120 | 90 | 1.9% |
| -----Mining, Logging, and Construction | 1,880 | 1,960 | 1,780 | -80 | 100 | 5.6% |
| -------Mining and Logging | 450 | 450 | 430 | 0 | 20 | 4.7% |
| -------Construction | 1,420 | 1,510 | 1,360 | -90 | 60 | 4.4% |
| -----Manufacturing | 3,060 | 3,090 | 3,060 | -30 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------Durable Goods | 2,530 | 2,550 | 2,500 | -20 | 30 | 1.2% |
| -------Nondurable Goods | 530 | 540 | 560 | -10 | -30 | -5.4% |
| ---Service Providing | 21,690 | 22,010 | 21,460 | -320 | 230 | 1.1% |
| -----Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 6,760 | 6,940 | 6,770 | -180 | -10 | -0.1% |
| -------Wholesale Trade | 1,520 | 1,580 | 1,520 | -60 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -------Retail Trade | 3,490 | 3,560 | 3,540 | -70 | -50 | -1.4% |
| -------Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities | 1,750 | 1,790 | 1,720 | -40 | 30 | 1.7% |
| -----Information | 170 | 170 | 180 | 0 | -10 | -5.6% |
| -----Financial Activities | 710 | 720 | 710 | -10 | 0 | 0.0% |
| -----Professional and Business Services | 1,450 | 1,480 | 1,350 | -30 | 100 | 7.4% |
| -----Education and Health Services | 4,430 | 4,430 | 4,580 | 0 | -150 | -3.3% |
| -----Leisure and Hospitality | 2,880 | 2,930 | 2,630 | -50 | 250 | 9.5% |
| -----Other Services | 620 | 650 | 610 | 630 | -30 | -4.9% |
| -----Government | 4,660 | 4,690 | 4,620 | -30 | 40 | 0.9% |
| -------Federal Government | 230 | 240 | 240 | -10 | -10 | -4.2% |
| -------State Government | 780 | 770 | 750 | 10 | 30 | 4.0% |
| ---------State Government Education | 400 | 380 | 390 | 20 | 10 | 2.6% |
| -------Local Government | 3,650 | 3,680 | 3,630 | -30 | 20 | 0.6% |
| ---------Local Government Education | 2,060 | 2,080 | 2,000 | -20 | 60 | 3.0% |
Note: Data benchmarked through September 2024, updated March 17, 2025.
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research (LMIR) Division, Washington employment estimates (WA-QB & CES)
Industry employment (covered employment)
Employment by industry, Lewis County 2023 annual average
Source: Employment Security Department/Labor Market Information and Research Division, Covered Employment (QCEW)
Average annual covered employment in Lewis County was 27,268 and the average annual wage was $55,149 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.
Employment is fairly balanced by industry, though the public sector makes up a large part of the economy. Another major sector is in trade (both retail and wholesale) and transportation and warehousing. Together these three sectors make up 6,076 jobs, or about 25% of all employment.
Top five sectors in terms of employment in 2023:
- Government (4,827)
- Health care and social assistance (4,038)
- Retail trade (3,753)
- Manufacturing (3,029)
- Accommodation and food services (2,602)
The top five sectors in terms of wage in 2023:
- Utilities ($138,045)
- Manufacturing ($71,724)
- Finance and insurance ($69,062)
- Professional, scientific, and technical services ($66,076)
- Wholesale trade ($65,010)
Workforce demographics for Lewis County
Employment status varies across demographic groups, with overall labor force participation (55.3%) driven by older workers exiting the workforce. Among the population aged 20-64, men tend to have higher labor force participation (77.7% vs. 65.2%) and higher unemployment (6.3% vs. 4.0%), though women with children under age 6 have the most difficulty finding work at 8.4% unemployment. Workers with less than a high school diploma have a much higher unemployment rate (9.0%) compared to those with a high school diploma or higher. Visit the U.S. Census Bureau website for quick facts about Lewis County.
Age
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 16 years and over | 67,977 | 55.3% | 5.9% |
| 16 to 19 years | 3,923 | 45.4% | 22.3% |
| 20 to 24 years | 4,160 | 75.3% | 14.1% |
| 25 to 29 years | 4,969 | 73.7% | 6.8% |
| 30 to 34 years | 5,143 | 79.1% | 4.9% |
| 35 to 44 years | 10,250 | 73.3% | 4.8% |
| 45 to 54 years | 9,861 | 76.3% | 2.6% |
| 55 to 59 years | 5,455 | 65.2% | 2.1% |
| 60 to 64 years | 6,437 | 56.5% | 6.1% |
| 65 to 74 years | 10,792 | 22.1% | 3.4% |
| 75 years and over | 6,987 | 4.8% | 2.7% |
Race or Hispanic origin
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White alone | 58,471 | 54.0% | 5.8% |
| Black or African American alone | 498 | 50.4% | 3.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone | 667 | 49.8% | 7.2% |
| Asian alone | 831 | 75.8% | 7.5% |
| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone | 183 | 60.1% | 0.0% |
| Some other race alone | 1,849 | 62.0% | 0.0% |
| Two or more races | 5,478 | 64.5% | 8.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) | 6,003 | 71.6% | 5.2% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino | 56,770 | 53.2% | 5.9% |
| Population 20 to 64 years | 46,275 | 71.5% | 5.3% |
Sex
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 23,373 | 77.7% | 6.3% |
| Female | 22,902 | 65.2% | 4.0% |
Females with children
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With own children under 18 | 8,012 | 69.5% | 3.6% |
| With own children under 6 only | 1,520 | 56.4% | 8.4% |
| With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 | 1,958 | 56.8% | 0.0% |
| With own children 6 to 17 only | 4,534 | 79.4% | 3.6% |
Poverty status in the past 12 months
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below poverty level | 6,140 | 37.6% | 20.1% |
| At or above the poverty level | 39,897 | 77.1% | 4.1% |
Disability status
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| With any disability | 8,029 | 42.6% | 10.7% |
Educational attainment
| Demographic characteristic | Total | Labor force participation rate | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 25 to 64 years | 42,115 | 71.1% | 4.3% |
| Less than high school graduate | 4,090 | 60.1% | 9.0% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency) | 13,457 | 63.3% | 5.9% |
| Some college or associate's degree | 16,245 | 73.7% | 3.6% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8,323 | 84.2% | 2.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, S2301 | Employment Status.
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