The continued malaise in the housing market has hit workers at Simpson Lumber Co.’s Commencement Bay sawmill on the Tacoma Tideflats.

The Tacoma-based Simpson said today it notified 19 workers there Monday they will be laid off because of the weak demand for the dimensional lumber they produce.

Simpson’s Tideflats pulp and paper mill is unaffected by those workforce reductions. That mill continues to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the company said.

Simpson joins several Northwest lumber producers in announcing sawmill layoffs.

Oregon’s Hampton Affiliates earlier this year announced layoffs at its Randle and Darrington mills in Western Washington.

Woodinville Lumber in late summer said it was shutting down throwing 114 employees out of work.