Cowlitz County, Washington Employment Sector Statistics (2024)
Workforce distribution by employment sector for Cowlitz County, Washington
Employment Indicators for Cowlitz County, Washington (2024)
Total Employed
48,036
Civilian 16+
Private For-Profit
71.1 %
Largest Sector
Self-Employed
5.6%
Entrepreneurship
Government
15.0%
Public Sector
Cowlitz County, Washington Workforce by Sector & Gender

Cowlitz County, Washington Employment Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Total Workers | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 34,152 | 71.1% |
| Government | 7,228 | 15.0% |
| Self-Employed | 2,683 | 5.6% |
| Private Non-Profit | 3,916 | 8.2% |
Cowlitz County, Washington Gender Ratio Analysis by Employment Sector (2024)
| Sector | Male:Female Ratio |
|---|---|
| Private For-Profit | 1.40:1 |
| Government | 0.73:1 |
| Self-Employed | 1.24:1 |
Cowlitz County, Washington Employment Trends (2010–2024)

Cowlitz County, Washington Historical Employment Sector Trends
| Year | Private | Gov | Self-Emp | Non-Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 71.1% | 15.0% | 5.6% | 8.2% |
| 2023 | 71.2% | 14.5% | 5.9% | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 72.8% | 14.0% | 5.3% | 7.7% |
| 2021 | 71.9% | 14.3% | 5.2% | 8.4% |
| 2020 | 72.5% | 13.7% | 5.4% | 8.3% |
| 2019 | 72.0% | 14.5% | 5.0% | 8.3% |
| 2018 | 72.1% | 14.0% | 5.3% | 8.4% |
| 2017 | 70.7% | 14.1% | 6.4% | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 70.4% | 14.3% | 6.5% | 8.5% |
| 2015 | 69.9% | 14.8% | 5.8% | 9.1% |
| 2014 | 68.4% | 14.9% | 6.6% | 9.8% |
| 2013 | 68.8% | 14.7% | 6.3% | 10.0% |
| 2012 | 68.0% | 15.0% | 6.2% | 10.6% |
| 2011 | 67.0% | 16.3% | 6.4% | 10.1% |
| 2010 | 68.8% | 14.9% | 7.2% | 8.9% |
Employment Sector FAQs for Cowlitz County, Washington
The largest employment sector in Cowlitz County, Washington is Private For-Profit, which employs 71.1% of the local workforce.
There are approximately 48,036 civilian workers aged 16 and over currently employed in Cowlitz County, Washington.
In the private for-profit sector, the male-to-female ratio is 1.40:1. This metric helps highlight gender participation across the most prominent industry classes.
Since 2010, the total number of workers in Cowlitz County, Washington has shown an increase, moving from 41,511 to 48,036 according to Census Bureau records.