Lewis County profile

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

Posted May 2025

April Highlights

In April, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 5.6% to 5.0% and total nonfarm employment increased by 270 jobs since March.

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

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

 

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 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 April 2025

Labor force and unemployment

  • The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.0% in April 2025, down from 5.6% in the previous month and down from 5.3% in April 2024.

  • The total civilian labor force was 33,656 in April 2025, up from 33,101 in April 2024.

  • There were 1,667 unemployed persons in April 2025, 73 fewer than in April 2024.

Unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted

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

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

Payroll employment

  • Total nonfarm employment was 27,240 in April 2025, not seasonally adjusted. This was up by 270 jobs from the previous month and up by 710 jobs (2.7%) from April 2024.

  • Over the year, goods producing industries added 200 jobs (4.2%) and service providing industries added 510 jobs (2.3%)

  • The largest increase over the year was in government (190 jobs), followed by leisure and hospitality (160 jobs) and manufacturing (140 jobs).

  • The largest decrease over the year was in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (down 40 jobs).

Nonfarm employment estimates, not seasonally adjusted, Lewis County

NAICS Industry Title Apr 2025 (Prelim) Mar 2025 (Revised) Apr 2024 (Revised) Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change
NAICS Industry Title Total nonfarm Apr 2025 (Prelim) 27,240 Mar 2025 (Revised) 26,970 Apr 2024 (Revised) 26,530 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 270 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 710 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 2.7%
NAICS Industry Title Total private (total nonfarm less government) Apr 2025 (Prelim) 22,350 Mar 2025 (Revised) 22,260 Apr 2024 (Revised) 21,830 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 90 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 520 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 2.4%
NAICS Industry Title Goods-producing Apr 2025 (Prelim) 5,000 Mar 2025 (Revised) 4,980 Apr 2024 (Revised) 4,800 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 20 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 200 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 4.2%
NAICS Industry Title - Mining and logging Apr 2025 (Prelim) 460 Mar 2025 (Revised) 450 Apr 2024 (Revised) 440 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 10 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 20 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 4.5%
NAICS Industry Title - Construction Apr 2025 (Prelim) 1,380 Mar 2025 (Revised) 1,380 Apr 2024 (Revised) 1,340 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 0 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 40 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 3.0%
NAICS Industry Title - Manufacturing Apr 2025 (Prelim) 3,160 Mar 2025 (Revised) 3,150 Apr 2024 (Revised) 3,020 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 10 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 140 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 4.6%
NAICS Industry Title Service-providing Apr 2025 (Prelim) 22,240 Mar 2025 (Revised) 21,990 Apr 2024 (Revised) 21,730 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 250 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 510 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 2.3%
NAICS Industry Title - Wholesale trade Apr 2025 (Prelim) 1,570 Mar 2025 (Revised) 1,570 Apr 2024 (Revised) 1,470 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 0 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 100 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 6.8%
NAICS Industry Title - Retail trade Apr 2025 (Prelim) 3,580 Mar 2025 (Revised) 3,590 Apr 2024 (Revised) 3,580 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change -10 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 0 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 0.0%
NAICS Industry Title - Transportation, warehousing, and utilities Apr 2025 (Prelim) 1,530 Mar 2025 (Revised) 1,520 Apr 2024 (Revised) 1,570 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 10 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change -40 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change -2.5%
NAICS Industry Title - Information Apr 2025 (Prelim) 180 Mar 2025 (Revised) 180 Apr 2024 (Revised) 170 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 0 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 10 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 5.9%
NAICS Industry Title - Financial activities Apr 2025 (Prelim) 700 Mar 2025 (Revised) 690 Apr 2024 (Revised) 700 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 10 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 0 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 0.0%
NAICS Industry Title - Professional and business services Apr 2025 (Prelim) 1,450 Mar 2025 (Revised) 1,490 Apr 2024 (Revised) 1,460 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change -40 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change -10 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change -0.7%
NAICS Industry Title - Private education and health services Apr 2025 (Prelim) 4,770 Mar 2025 (Revised) 4,700 Apr 2024 (Revised) 4,680 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 70 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 90 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 1.9%
NAICS Industry Title - Leisure and hospitality Apr 2025 (Prelim) 2,950 Mar 2025 (Revised) 2,920 Apr 2024 (Revised) 2,790 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 30 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 160 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 5.7%
NAICS Industry Title - Other services Apr 2025 (Prelim) 630 Mar 2025 (Revised) 630 Apr 2024 (Revised) 620 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 0 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 10 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 1.6%
NAICS Industry Title - Government Apr 2025 (Prelim) 4,890 Mar 2025 (Revised) 4,710 Apr 2024 (Revised) 4,700 Mar 2025 to Apr 2025 Change 180 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 Change 190 Apr 2024 to Apr 2025 % Change 4.0%

Note: Data benchmarked through December 2024, updated May 16, 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)

Employment by industry, Lewis County 2023 annual average

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

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
Demographic characteristic Population 16 years and over Total 67,977 Labor force participation rate 55.3% Unemployment rate 5.9%
Demographic characteristic 16 to 19 years Total 3,923 Labor force participation rate 45.4% Unemployment rate 22.3%
Demographic characteristic 20 to 24 years Total 4,160 Labor force participation rate 75.3% Unemployment rate 14.1%
Demographic characteristic 25 to 29 years Total 4,969 Labor force participation rate 73.7% Unemployment rate 6.8%
Demographic characteristic 30 to 34 years Total 5,143 Labor force participation rate 79.1% Unemployment rate 4.9%
Demographic characteristic 35 to 44 years Total 10,250 Labor force participation rate 73.3% Unemployment rate 4.8%
Demographic characteristic 45 to 54 years Total 9,861 Labor force participation rate 76.3% Unemployment rate 2.6%
Demographic characteristic 55 to 59 years Total 5,455 Labor force participation rate 65.2% Unemployment rate 2.1%
Demographic characteristic 60 to 64 years Total 6,437 Labor force participation rate 56.5% Unemployment rate 6.1%
Demographic characteristic 65 to 74 years Total 10,792 Labor force participation rate 22.1% Unemployment rate 3.4%
Demographic characteristic 75 years and over Total 6,987 Labor force participation rate 4.8% Unemployment rate 2.7%

Race or Hispanic origin

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic White alone Total 58,471 Labor force participation rate 54.0% Unemployment rate 5.8%
Demographic characteristic Black or African American alone Total 498 Labor force participation rate 50.4% Unemployment rate 3.6%
Demographic characteristic American Indian and Alaska Native alone Total 667 Labor force participation rate 49.8% Unemployment rate 7.2%
Demographic characteristic Asian alone Total 831 Labor force participation rate 75.8% Unemployment rate 7.5%
Demographic characteristic Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone Total 183 Labor force participation rate 60.1% Unemployment rate 0.0%
Demographic characteristic Some other race alone Total 1,849 Labor force participation rate 62.0% Unemployment rate 0.0%
Demographic characteristic Two or more races Total 5,478 Labor force participation rate 64.5% Unemployment rate 8.5%
Demographic characteristic Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race) Total 6,003 Labor force participation rate 71.6% Unemployment rate 5.2%
Demographic characteristic White alone, not Hispanic or Latino Total 56,770 Labor force participation rate 53.2% Unemployment rate 5.9%
Demographic characteristic Population 20 to 64 years Total 46,275 Labor force participation rate 71.5% Unemployment rate 5.3%

Sex

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic Male Total 23,373 Labor force participation rate 77.7% Unemployment rate 6.3%
Demographic characteristic Female Total 22,902 Labor force participation rate 65.2% Unemployment rate 4.0%

Females with children

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic With own children under 18 Total 8,012 Labor force participation rate 69.5% Unemployment rate 3.6%
Demographic characteristic With own children under 6 only Total 1,520 Labor force participation rate 56.4% Unemployment rate 8.4%
Demographic characteristic With own children under 6 and 6 to 17 Total 1,958 Labor force participation rate 56.8% Unemployment rate 0.0%
Demographic characteristic With own children 6 to 17 only Total 4,534 Labor force participation rate 79.4% Unemployment rate 3.6%

Poverty status in the past 12 months

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic Below poverty level Total 6,140 Labor force participation rate 37.6% Unemployment rate 20.1%
Demographic characteristic At or above the poverty level Total 39,897 Labor force participation rate 77.1% Unemployment rate 4.1%

Disability status

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic With any disability Total 8,029 Labor force participation rate 42.6% Unemployment rate 10.7%

Educational attainment

Demographic characteristic Total Labor force participation rate Unemployment rate
Demographic characteristic Population 25 to 64 years Total 42,115 Labor force participation rate 71.1% Unemployment rate 4.3%
Demographic characteristic Less than high school graduate Total 4,090 Labor force participation rate 60.1% Unemployment rate 9.0%
Demographic characteristic High school graduate (includes equivalency) Total 13,457 Labor force participation rate 63.3% Unemployment rate 5.9%
Demographic characteristic Some college or associate's degree Total 16,245 Labor force participation rate 73.7% Unemployment rate 3.6%
Demographic characteristic Bachelor's degree or higher Total 8,323 Labor force participation rate 84.2% Unemployment rate 2.0%

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

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.