In 2022, 3.6 million people worked in different fields in forestry and wood-based industry in the EU, a 1.4% increase compared to 2012. In comparison, total employment in all areas in the EU increased by 8.4% between 2012 and 2022.

In terms of employment status, 3.2 million people were employed in activities related to forestry and wood-based industry in 2022 (classified by NACE Rev. 2), and another 411 000 people were self-employed in that sector.

The activity that employed the most people in the forestry and wood-based industry was the manufacture of furniture, which recorded a total of 1.1 million employed people and 165 000 self-employed people. From 2012 to 2022, employment in this field increased 0.9%.

Employment in forestry and wood-based industry in the EU, by NACE Rev. 2 activities, 2012 and 2022. Bar chart. See link to full dataset below.

The second largest area of employment was the manufacture of wood and products of wood and cork other than furniture and the manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials, with 1.0 million employed people and 138 000 self-employed in 2022, which was a decrease of 0.4% from 2012.

The manufacture of paper and paper products came third with 638 000 employed people and 14 000 self-employed, which recorded the highest increase of all with 10.6% since 2012.

Forestry and logging registered the smallest number of workers with 446 000 employed people and 94 000 self-employed, and a decrease of 10.1% compared with 2012.
 
Source:  europa.eu