Cowliltz County jobless rate dips ... for now
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 7:09 AM PDT
By Evan Caldwell
Printable version
E-mail this articleCowlitz County's jobless rate improved last month, but it likely will rise in the coming months on the heels Fleetwood's recent announcement that it will close in November, state employment officials said Tuesday
"It's been slow and steady job growth so far this year until" the Fleetwood announcement, said Scott Bailey, a regional economist with the state Employment Security Department.
Last week, Fleetwood officials said the company will close is manufactured home factory in Woodland and let 135 employees go.
"That's the first major blip Cowlitz County has had in a while," Bailey said. "It's a rocky road ahead, and it ensures a ripple effect throughout the county."
Bailey said former Fleetwood workers seeking similar pay --- in the $15 per hour range --- may have to look in the Portland-Vanoucer area.
"There's been pretty decent job growth there, and there are certainly jobs available," he said.
Cowlitz County's August unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, down from 6.6 percent in July and 6.7 percent in August 2006. Employment hit 38,200, which was 600 jobs, or 1.6 percent, above August 2006. About 2,650 county residents were without a job.
"I don't expect job growth to get any better than 1.5 percent for the year, and with these job losses at Fleetwood, it might slow slightly," Bailey said. Because of uncertainty about the national economy, Bailey added, "I think a lot of people are just stopping and waiting as opposed to investing in new business."
Statewide, the unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent in August from July's rate of 4.9 percent. Since August 2006, 87,900 net new jobs have been created in Washington.
"I am running out of ways to say 'the news is good.' Washington's unemployment rate has remained at historic lows since the beginning of the year," Gov. Chris Gregoire said. "Our consistently strong economy is bolstered by this low unemployment rate and our strong revenue forecast."
In other nearby counties, the August jobless rates:
• Fell to 5.8 percent in Wahkiakum County, down from 6.6 percent in July and 6.2 percent in August 2006.
• Decreased to 6.3 percent in Lewis County, down from 7 percent in July and 6.6 percent a year ago.
• Declined to 5.7 percent in Pacific County, down from 6.2 percent in July and 6.3 percent in August 2006.
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