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 in our three counties (Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum) is down to 8.3 percent (but still higher than the state 7.4 percent and national average 7.7 percent). In addition, the total number of people in the labor force declined to 285,052 down from 295,190 in August. The Labor Force has not been at this level since September 2018.
Companies are hiring with healthcare companies posting the largest number of jobs ads. Occupations in demand include retail, stockers, nurses and fast-food workers.
Note: Employment numbers are reported approximately three weeks into the following month, for example, September data is published near the end of October.
In-Demand Occupations – Online Job Postings
Basic Food Participants
Clark County
178,985 Total Employment (Q1 2020, Pre-COVID-19)
$54,617 Avg. Annual Wage (Q1 2020, Pre-COVID-19)
4.4% Unemployment Rate (March 2020, Pre-COVID-19)
Top 5 Industries by Employment Q1 2020
| Industry | Number Employed | Avg. Annual Wages |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare & Social Services | 27,687 | $56,798 |
| Retail Trade | 19,766 | $34,382 |
| Educational Services | 17,131 | $40,541 |
| Construction | 16,245 | $60,794 |
| Manufacturing | 14,487 | $61,203 |
Cowlitz County
41,710 Total Employment (Q1 2020, Pre-COVID-19)
$51,946 Avg. Annual Wage (Q1 2020, Pre-COVID-19)
5.7% Unemployment Rate (March 2020, Pre-COVID-19)
Top 5 Industries by Employment Q1 2020
| Industry | Number Employed | Avg. Annual Wages |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 6,698 | $74,331 |
| Healthcare & Social Assistance |
6,599 | $48,311 |
| Retail Trade | 5,019 | $29,578 |
| Educational Services | 3,609 | $48,414 |
| Accommodation & Food Services |
3,385 | $19,998 |
Wahkiakum County
1,022 Total Employment (Q1 2020, Pre-COVID-19)
$38,239 Avg. Annual Wage (Q1 2020, Pre-COVID-19)
6.9% Unemployment Rate (March 2020, Pre-COVID-19)
Top 5 Industries by Employment Q1 2020
| Industry | Number Employed | Avg. Annual Wages |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting |
185 | $39,260 |
| Educational Services | 136 | $39,635 |
| Utilities | 121 | $67,858 |
| Public Administration | 86 | $39,581 |
| Healthcare & Social Assistance | 83 | $27,288 |
Workforce-Related Information
Demographics and Household Profiles
Public School Statistics
