Data
Through our partnerships with labor market analysts, economic development agencies, industry and “real-time” labor information tools such as Jobs EQ, we determine the employment, wage, demographic data, and occupational projections to forecast workforce changes in our area.
We compare business skills demand against training supply and inform training and education providers, colleges and partners so that industry needs for skilled talent can be addressed, while helping individuals gain the needed skills for employment in our region’s high-growth industries.
SW WA Monthly Employment Report
Unemployment claims in Southwest Washington have continued to decline in November 2021 (Clark County 3.4%, Cowlitz 4.1% & Wahkiakum 4.0%). Total employment across the three-county region has risen to 597,216, up from 587,376 between October 2021 and November 2021. Total employment is its highest since February 2020, reflecting the growing job market.
As has been consistent through most of the recession, several demographic groups have had higher than
average job loss: African American women, Latinx women, and those with less than a bachelor’s degree in
education. Until recently, African American men were also hit harder by job loss. Through July, the impact on white
women was only slightly worse than on white men, but that gap has widened in the past three months.
– Scott Bailey, Southwest Washington’s Regional Economist
Read the latest labor market insights from Southwest Washington’s Regional Economist, Scott Bailey.
The dashboard below can be filtered by date range & selected county and displays: monthly civilian labor force, total employment & total unemployment measures in Southwest Washington.
Clark County
171,980 Total Employment
(Q2 2021)
$61,220 Avg. Annual Wage
(Q2 2021)
4.0% Unemployment Rate
(October 2021)
Top 5 Industries by Employment Q2 2021
| Industry | Number Employed | Avg. Annual Wages |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare & Social Assistance | 27,867 | $58,243 |
| Retail Trade | 19,332 | $38,401 |
| Construction | 16,462 | $63,653 |
| Educational Services | 15,479 | $44,960 |
| Manufacturing | 13,702 | $65,781 |
Cowlitz County
41,080 Total Employment
(Q2 2021)
$56,023 Avg. Annual Wage
(Q2 2021)
4.7% Unemployment Rate
(October 2021)
Top 5 Industries by Employment Q2 2021
| Industry | Number Employed | Avg. Annual Wages |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 6,658 | $73,338 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance |
6,505 | $52,172 |
| Retail Trade | 5,168 | $34,518 |
| Construction | 3,112 | $67,956 |
| Educational Services | 2,983 | $53,427 |
Wahkiakum County
1,071 Total Employment
(Q2 2021)
$37,837 Avg. Annual Wage
(Q2 2021)
5.1% Unemployment Rate
(October 2021)
Top 5 Industries by Employment Q2 2021
| Industry | Number Employed | Avg. Annual Wages |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting |
191 | $39,875 |
| Utilities | 127 | $66,936 |
| Retail Trade | 106 | $26,459 |
| Public Administration | 106 | $37,697 |
| Educational Services | 96 | $39,358 |
Workforce-Related Information
Demographics and Household Profiles
Public School Statistics
