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 7.8 thousand full time equivalent staff employed by primary wood processors in the UK in 2016 (Table 7.2), a 4% increase from the total for 2015.

Around three fifths (57%) of the total employment in 2016 worked in sawmills and over one quarter (29%) worked in wood-based panel mills.

Table 7.2 Employment in primary wood processing, 2012-2016

^{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.}