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County's jobless rate hits 6-year low

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 7:09 AM PST

By Evan Caldwell

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Cowlitz County's jobless rate in October fell to its lowest level since September 2000, and state economists expect slow but steady job growth to continue.

October's unemployment rate -- 5.8 percent --- was down from 6.2 percent in September and down from 6.5 percent in October 2005, according to state Department of Employment Security figures released Tuesday.

The last time the county's jobless rate was lower was in September 2000, when it hit 5.6 percent.

"We've had pretty steady job growth for two years. Not hot, but steady," said Scott Bailey, regional economist for employment security. "Along with steady population growth, the labor market has tightened up a bit."

Longview's Your Market Place grocery store, Lyman Lumber's Tri-County Truss plant and Winlock's Cardinal Glass plant helped to add family wage jobs into the area's economy in recent months.

Despite the good news, the number of employed people in the county is still below pre-recession levels. Last month, 38,000 people had jobs, down from 39,630 in September 2000.

The number of jobs should increase during the next two months as retailers and grocery stores add seasonal help, Bailey said.

Next year, "we're headed for continued slow and steady increases in job growth," he said.

Cowlitz County jobless
Cowlitz County jobless rates
Table of year-over-year jobless rates by month for Cowlitz County
Month: 2005; 2006
Jan.: 8.5; 6.8
Feb.: 8.6; 7.1
March: 7.6; 5.9
April: 7.7; 6.1
May: 6.9; 6.2
June: 7.4; 6.7
July: 6.8; 6.8
Aug.: 7.1; 6.6
Sept.: 6.3; 6.2
Oct.: 6.5; 5.8
Source: state Department of Employment Security.
Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce President Rick Winsman credits steady job growth to good planning and local agencies working together to recruit businesses.

"It's not huge numbers, but this growth is solid and, over time, it will have a larger impact," Winsman said. "And the better this economy is, the easier it is to recruit businesses here."

Statewide, unemployment increased slightly to 4.8 percent in October from 5.3 percent in September.

In October, the jobless rate:

• Fell to 5.5 percent in Wahkiakum County, down from 5.9 percent in September and lower than the 5.8 percent rate of October 2005.

• Dropped to 5.7 percent in Lewis County, improved from 6.3 percent in September and 6.2 a year earlier.

• Decreased to 5.5 percent in Pacific County, down from 6.1 percent in September and 6 percent in October 2005.

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free spirit wrote on Feb 7, 2008 1:19 AM:

" If they were in bad condition , it would seam that the neighbor who saw them in the woods would have immediately rescued them, and asked questions later. Obviously they were not in bad condition, only crates(not a crime) or carriers. Maybe he did take his animals with him on a trip. I have taken mine before,and know many people who take thiers along(even in RVs. Sounds like extreme tree huggers to me. Or maybe the PETA people who think a dog should never be crated.I guess it is more humane to go to dog shows and let other peoples dogs out in protest to them bieng in thier crates. I guess if this results in them getting hit by a car, lost, or running at large , this is acceptable. Most vet's require that an animal is crated in the waiting area. I hear no mention of whether or not they had food, or water. I think the humane society also must have someting better to do than chase after a guy and 18 dogs that are not in unsavory condition, even by the accounts of the neighbor who saw them in the woods. If they were in bad condition shame on that neighbor for leaving them there. "

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