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Longview jobs grow as Washington state cools around it.
4.3%
Cowlitz County unemployment rate
Down from 5.0% in June 2026
42,400 jobs
Local nonfarm payrolls
Up 200 jobs month-over-month, July 2026
-14,500 jobs
Washington statewide job change
September 2026, 44th among states in growth
-0.5%
Washington real wage growth
3.1% wage growth vs 3.5% inflation
This Month's Takeaways
Longview's job growth is bucking the state's cooling trend.
Cowlitz County unemployment dropped to 4.3% in July while Washington lost roughly 14,500 jobs statewide in September. The gap may reflect the metro's manufacturing and healthcare base holding steadier than the state's retail and information sectors, which posted year-over-year losses.
Real wages are eroding even where employment looks solid.
Washington wage growth of 3.1% is running below the state's 3.5% inflation rate, and several widely-held local roles — Operations Manager, Customer Service Representative, Accountant — show significant advertised pay declines. Local payroll stability may be masking a slow squeeze on household purchasing power that matters for retail and consumer-facing commerce.
Healthcare and skilled trades are the metro's wage bright spots.
Certified Nursing Assistant, HVAC Technician, and Elementary/Secondary Teacher pay all posted moderate-to-significant local increases, outpacing national figures in two of three cases. That pattern tracks the national split between hands-on, licensed-labor demand and softer white-collar postings, suggesting the metro's healthcare and public-education sectors remain structurally tight.
One manufacturing disruption is still an open question for local data.
The May 2026 Nippon Dynawave production halt after a fatal chemical tank implosion has not yet shown up clearly in payroll figures through July. Commerce and workforce planners should treat current manufacturing employment counts as provisional until fall data confirms whether the facility has resumed full operations.
Local Economic Conditions
Cowlitz County's unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in July 2026, the second straight monthly decline, and local payrolls grew to 42,400 jobs even as Washington state shed roughly 14,500 jobs in September and ranked 44th nationally in job growth. The divergence appears to reflect Longview's manufacturing and timber-dependent base moving on a different cycle than the state's tech- and retail-heavy metros, though the May 2026 Nippon Dynawave production halt following a chemical tank incident remains a local wildcard not yet reflected in official payroll counts.
Open Threads in the Data
Local job growth outpacing a softening state picture suggests Longview's business climate may be more resilient than headline Washington numbers imply, which matters for commerce leaders weighing expansion or relocation decisions in the metro. At the same time, wage-vs-inflation erosion statewide (3.1% wage growth against 3.5% inflation) and significant local pay declines in roles like Operations Manager and Customer Service Representative point to softening purchasing power that could temper retail and service-sector revenue even as employment holds up. Consider tracking local consumer spending indicators alongside payroll counts, since job stability alone may not translate into stronger business conditions if real wages continue to lag inflation.
