Cowlitz County unemployment rate hits 8 percent
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 6:12 AM PDT
By The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleCowlitz County’s jobless rate crept to 8 percent in February, the highest it’s been since February 2005 but only up a fraction from January’s 7.9 percent unemployment rate.
Scott Bailey, regional economist with Washington Employment Security Department, said non-farm jobs actually grew by 100 in February and are 300 jobs higher than a year ago.
However, manufacturing jobs are down 100 over the past month, all in the paper industry. That number mostly reflects cutbacks at Longview Fibre, many of which took place last month.
Overall, manufacturing jobs are down 400 from a year ago, 300 in the paper industry.
Construction and mining jobs were up 200 from a month ago and education and health services were up 100 jobs from January.
Wahkiakum County’s unemployment rate fell to 7.5 percent in February, down from 8.4 percent in January.
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