Report validates massive job opportunities in wood industry

A report commissioned by the Wood Industry Resource Collaborative (WIRC) found that the wood industry posted over 120,000 new job opportunities in 2023, which are expected to grow by over 20 percent in the next five years.

WIRC is a consortium of trade organizations formed about five years ago as a resource to address labor shortages and raise awareness in the wood industry. Its members say this new report is a significant step in furthering the mission.

“This report was a very tangible element that ended up working for everyone,” says Doug Hague, CEO of the Architectural Woodwork Institute, which is a member of WIRC.

“It’s a report for industry people to look at and have a tangible item to know what WIRC is doing and really highlighting the holes and what we’re up against in terms of other industry and career opportunities for all these individuals entering the workplace. It also works as a benchmark to the audience we’re trying to reach to say here are the career opportunities and how we align with them with all that you have.”

The report examined current job availability, average salaries, skill and certification requirements, and more. It found that retirements and misalignment between job requirements and available talent have led to the secondary wood industry seeing nearly 16,000 companies recruit for jobs over the prior 12 months.

Learn more at woodindustryed.org. 

This article was originally published in the April 2024 issue.