NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Longview-Kelso, WA

Metro Market Score 69.3 (Difficult), ranked #332 of 378 metros. 298 establishments, 4,987 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 69.3
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

⚡Rising Wages

Wage costs in Longview-Kelso's retail trade sector are well above the metro average, with wage competitiveness at 73.3 and rising pressure at 81.9. New entrants should factor higher labor costs into their financial projections for this market.

Industry Concentration
66.4
LQ: 1.21
Rank #251 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
73.3
$40,541 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 40.0
Employment growth index
Rank #228 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
81.9
YoY wage change index

298 Retail Trade Firms in Longview-Kelso

298
Establishments
+1.0% YoY
4,987
Total Employment
-0.8% YoY
$40,541
Average Annual Wage
+3.9% YoY
1.21
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Longview-Kelso vs Washington Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Washington overall. The state ranks #20/51 for entry risk.

Measure Longview-Kelso WA Statewide
Overall Score 69.3 Difficult 42.0 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #332 of 378 metros #20 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Longview-Kelso

Finance and Insurance 31.9 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 34.9 Administrative and Support Services 37.3 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 46.9 Information 52.2 Healthcare and Social Assistance 56.3 Accommodation and Food Services 56.9 Other Services 56.9 Construction 64.8

Retail Trade in Other Washington Metros

Walla Walla 51.0 #153/378 Bellingham 58.5 #237/378 Kennewick-Richland 58.9 #242/378 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 60.7 #263/378 Yakima 67.8 #326/378 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater 69.2 #329/378 Spokane-Spokane Valley 69.7 #334/378 Wenatchee-East Wenatchee 69.9 #337/378 Mount Vernon-Anacortes 71.8 #348/378 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard 74.0 #361/378

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Longview-Kelso's retail trade sector, the wage competitiveness component (73.3) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.