Port of Kalama Comprehensive Plan

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

---