Port of Kalama Comprehensive Plan
June 1, 2015
Page 17
Several tenants of the Port of Kalama operate in sectors that experienced job
growth in
Cowlitz County. These include machinery (i.e. 91 new jobs), fabricated metal products (85 new
jobs), chemicals (60 new jobs), and furniture (14 new jobs). Glass manufacturing is not reported
separately, but saw a jump in employment with the opening of the Bennu Glass (now Owens-
Illinois) plant at the Port of Kalama.
Employment in Services
The service sector in Cowlitz County grew by more than 460 jobs between 2005 and 2014.
The largest number of jobs in this sector is related to healthcare, which currently accounts for
48.2 percent of service sector jobs. Healthcare also saw the largest growth, jumping by more
than 1,200 jobs during that period. (See Table 5)
Accommodation and food services accounted for 24.0 percent of services employment in
2014, but the total number of jobs was essentially the same as in 2005. Several parts of the
service sector experienced declining employment, including “Other services” and
“Administration and waste services”.
Table 5 – Services Employment in Cowlitz County
Average Employment
Share of Total
Industry
2005
2010
2014
2005
2010
2014
Health care and social assistance
4,486
4,977
5,705
39.4%
42.5%
48.2%
Accommodation and food services
2,859
2,650
2,842
25.1%
22.6%
24.0%
Other services, except public admin.
1,538
1,873
1,006
13.5%
16.0%
8.5%
Admin. and waste services
1,097
925
887
9.6%
7.9%
7.5%
Professional and technical services
689
726
694
6.1%
6.2%
5.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
552
388
482
4.9%
3.3%
4.1%
Educational services
121
139
168
1.1%
1.2%
1.4%
Management of enterprises
35
41
56
0.3%
0.3%
0.5%
Total
11,377
11,719
11,840
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
Source: BST Associates, WA State Employment Security Dept
Employment at the Port of Kalama
Tenants of the Port of Kalama are a key source of jobs in the area. The port conducts an
employment census twice a year with its tenants; according to the May and November census,
Port tenants averaged nearly 880 jobs in 2014 (See Figure 6).
The number of jobs associated with Port tenants has varied
over the years, depending on general economic conditions as well
as on the specific mix of industries represented by the tenants, and
the state of each of these sectors. Over the long run, the number of
jobs at Port tenants has nearly doubled, from less than 440 jobs in
January 1985 to 885 jobs in November 2014. At the time of the
report, employment is near 900 jobs. New tenants, TEMCO’s return to full capacity and an
improving economy are expected to continue increasing employment in 2015.
Businesses at the Port of
Kalama employ nearly
900 people.
Port of Kalama Comprehensive Plan
June 1, 2015
Page 18
Figure 6 – Employment Trends at Port Tenants
Source: Washington Employment Security Department
The highest levels of employment were seen from July 1999 through May 2009. During this
period employment dipped below 900 just once, and exceeded 1,000 jobs a number of times.
Most of decline in employment between the peak and the present was associated with North
Star Yachts and Madill Inc. North Star employed as many 124 workers (in January 2001), but
transferred production to China in 2007. Madill employment peaked at 120 in July 2000, but the
Kalama operation closed in 2008. Employment at several other tenants (e.g. Gram Lumber,
Steelscape, others) depends on the state of the construction of industry, which is now
recovering following several lean years.
A recent expansion project at the TEMCO export elevator temporarily reduced export-
related employment at that facility, but construction provided approximately 350 to 380 jobs
during the project. The TEMCO upgrade effectively tripled throughput capacity and provides
more consistent and continuous production. These improvements also demonstrate the long-
term commitment TEMCO has to Kalama.
The Port has been successful in attracting a number of new tenants. Bennu Glass began
operations in late 2011 with five employees, but has employed more than 90 workers since the
end of 2012. Bennu Glass has recently been acquired by Owens-Illinois, Inc., one of the nation’s
largest glass container companies.
A listing of all current employers at the Port of Kalama is presented in Table 6. In addition
to these employees, a number of other jobs are created directly or indirectly by businesses at the
port, such as those in trucking industries and support services.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1,000
1,100
1,200
Jan
-85
Jan
-86
Jan
-87
Jan
-88
Jan
-89
Jan
-90
Jan
-91
Jan
-92
Jan
-93
Jan
-94
Jan
-95
Jan
-96
Jan
-97
Jan
-98
Jan
-99
Jan
-00
Jan
-01
Nov
-01
Jan
-03
May
-04
Jan
-05
May
-06
May
-07
May
-08
May
-09
May
-10
May
-11
May
-12
May
-13
May
-14