Forestry & Logging Employment in Canada (2001–2024)

The forestry and logging industry has long been a foundational part of Canada’s natural resource economy. However, employment in this sector has faced steep declines over the last two decades due to mechanization, policy changes, and global market pressures.

This article presents a year-by-year breakdown of total employees in Canada’s forestry sector, based on Statistics Canada data, revealing critical employment patterns from 2001 to 2024.

Key Employment Trends in Forestry and Logging:

Lowest Point: 2020 during the pandemic (35,712), followed by a brief rebound in 2021 (+7%).

2001 Peak: Employment was highest at 68,149 workers.

Sharp Decline: A major drop between 2007–2009, when the workforce fell from 52,462 to 39,506, a 25% decrease in just two years.

Recent Years: The sector has remained relatively stable since 2015, averaging around 38,000 workers annually.

Number of people employed in Manufacturing in Canada (2001-2024)

Year	Total Employees	Growth YoY
2001	68,149
2002	67,119	-2%
2003	62,977	-6%
2004	61,497	-2%
2005	59,143	-4%
2006	56,061	-5%
2007	52,462	-6%
2008	45,663	-13%
2009	39,506	-13%
2010	39,874	1%
2011	40,179	1%
2012	39,378	-2%
2013	38,318	-3%
2014	38,585	1%
2015	40,108	4%
2016	39,858	-1%
2017	39,649	-1%
2018	39,392	-1%
2019	38,547	-2%
2020	35,712	-7%
2021	38,154	7%
2022	38,032	0%
2023	37,162	-2%
2024	37,470	1%

Source:

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0202-01  Employment by industry, annual