Forestry Industry in Canada

Supporting Canada's Forestry Families

Home to the world's third-largest forested area that covers nearly 40% of its land surface area and accounting for 8.6% of global forested lands ^[1], it's no wonder that forests are inherently a part of the Canadian way of life, providing us with ample leisure and recreation while underpinning jobs and business opportunities for our families.

Like energy, agriculture, and mining, forestry products are all around us at any given time. Think of the paper in our schools, the lumber to frame our buildings, or the wood to make furniture and fill our homes and businesses with comfortable chairs, beds, and couches. Wood is an essential natural resource used to manufacture all the comforts of a modern-day lifestyle and has been used for similar purposes for thousands of years throughout human history.

Today, Canada's forestry industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide and plays a significant, often overlooked part in our national economy at large. Employment in Canada’s forestry sector is especially important for Indigenous and rural communities where forest-related work is often a primary source of income and one of the few long-term, well-paying career opportunities available. The sector is a leading economic mainstay of over 300 communities from coast to coast and adds more than $30 billion to the economy annually.

Even as the number of jobs is lower than in the past because of advances in harvesting technology and other challenging factors such as trade barriers, today's forestry jobs tend to be, on average, more skilled and higher paid than the average job found in Canada.

Top Forestry Articles:

• What Countries Have the Largest Forests in the World?
• Forestry in Canada: 55 Facts
• Forestry in Quebec: 15 Facts
• Forestry in Ontario: 20 Facts
• Forestry in British Columbia: 20 Facts
• Forestry in Alberta: 24 Facts
• Canadian Forestry: Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

See all of Canada Action’s “forestry” related blogs today!

Canada's Forest Sector: At a Glance

> Abundant – Covering over a third of a billion hectares stretching from the coastal British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's forests account for approximately 8.6% of the world's forested lands.

> Growing – Canada’s stewardship of its forests is shown through its rigorous management systems and laws. Large swaths of Canada’s forests are protected, and harvesting laws are strict in every region of the country. Since 1990, less than half of 1% of Canada’s forested lands have been deforested due to its high standard of forest management ^[1].

> Critical – Forestry jobs are often found in rural communities throughout Canada. As the second largest country in the world, with 39% of its land area covered by forests ^[1], these jobs are a critical economic mainstay in many rural economies throughout Canada’s vast wilderness.

> Indigenous – Forestry is vital in providing opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and businesses nationwide. Canada's forestry sector employs about 11,600 Indigenous workers, making it one of the largest Indigenous employers in the country ^[1]. Approximately 1,400 Indigenous-owned businesses are involved in the sector, providing goods and services to the industry ^[1], while 55% of Indigenous people live in or near forests across Canada ^[1].

Forestry in Canada: Facts

• Canada is home to 36 million hectares (ha) of forest, or about 9% of the world’s forest and 25% of the world’s boreal forest ^[1]
• 72% of Crown forest land managed in Canada is certified to third-party forest management standards ^[1]
• Over 1/3 of Canada’s population lives in or near forests, including 55% of Indigenous people as of 2021 ^[1]
• Canada’s forestry industry contributed $33.4 billion to Canada’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022 ^[1]
• Canada’s forest sector employed approximately 212,660 people in 2022 ^[1]
• More than 11,000 forestry employees in Canada identify as Indigenous, making it one of the largest private sector employers of First Nations in the country ^[1]
• Average earnings in the forest sector were $51,900 annually as of 2022^[1]
• Nearly 10% of Canadian forests are protected as of 2022 ^[1]
• Canada produces around 70% of the world’s maple syrup, with Quebec alone responsible for 90% of Canadian production ^[1]
• From 2010 to 2022, Canadian maple syrup production increased from 33 to 79 million litres ^[1]
• Canada’s maple product exports totalled $616 million in 2022 ^[1]
• Canadian maple products are exported to nearly 75 countries; the United States imports more than 60% of Canadian-made maple products ^[1]
• Since 1990, less than 0.5% of Canada’s forested lands have been deforested ^[1]
• More than 90% of forests in Canada are on public land, while 7% are under private ownership ^[1]

Join Us Today!

Forests in Canada regulate our water cycles, provide habitat for our wildlife, and are an essential part of Canadian identity and well-being. They underpin employment opportunities across the country – particularly in rural regions where, for many small Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, a forestry job can be the difference between poverty and prosperity for generations of families.

From rural economic development to housing our people, few industries are as worthy of national support as Canada's forest products sector. So, together, let's support Canada's forestry families for a better and more prosperous economy and future for our country. Global wood demand is growing – the world needs more Canadian forestry!

The U.S. imports roughly 30 per cent of the softwood lumber it uses, with more than 80 per cent of imports coming from Canada.

British Columbia is Canada’s largest softwood lumber producer and exporter. https://t.co/fhlgzCNXUV

— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) April 10, 2025

SOURCES:

_{1 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/sites/nrcan/files/forest/sof2023/NRCAN_SofForest_Annual_2023_EN_accessible-vf(1).pdf}