Study: Wisconsin sees the growth of the forest industry

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MADISON, Wisconsin – A new national study shows that lumber sales are increasing in Wisconsin and that more people are working in the state's forest industry.

Wisconsin Public Radio reports that the National Forest Owners Alliance released a report last month indicating that employment in the Wisconsin forestry sector had increased by almost 5% between 2010 and 2016, reaching 174,848 people. State timber sales increased nearly 10% to $ 21.6 billion in 2016, the latest year for which complete data are available.

According to the study, Wisconsin led the Midwest in both fields in 2016, as well as in woodlots.

Henry Schienebeck is director of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association. He attributes the growth of the industry in part to the production of more sawnwood, the high-grade wood used in hardwood flooring.