Information on employment in primary wood processing is obtained annually via the sources used to collect data on UK-grown timber (presented in Chapter 2).

There was estimated to be a total of 7.5 thousand full time equivalent staff employed by primary wood processors in the UK in 2015 (Table 7.2), a 1% decrease from the total for 2014.

Around three fifths (58%) of the total employment in 2015 worked in sawmills and over one quarter (28%) worked in wood-based panel mills.

Source: industry surveys, industry associations.

Notes:

1. Some businesses operate sawmills and round fencing mills. Employment for such businesses may be recorded under sawmills, round fencing manufacturers or shared between the two categories.