Workforce in forestry and the forest industry

The importance of forestry and the forest industry as a source of employment continues to be an important factor in maintaining the vitality of rural areas and regional economies, although the number of jobs provided by the forest sector has diminished in the past few decades.

Forestry and the forest industry employ about 3% of all employed people in Finland, or 69,000 persons, three fourths of whom work for the forest industry. Forestry provides jobs for about 22,000 people, in addition to which a considerable part of silvicultural work in particular is done by private forest owners and their families. The forest sector continues to be maledominated, women accounting for only about 20% of all employees.