Infomation

Infosheets

Forest Facts

• 55,000 in 1971-72 to
• 35,000 in 1991-92
• and is now probably below.....32,000 (1995)

Industry Code	Number of People Employed
		1971-72			1986-87		1991-92

 Forestry and 
Logging 
Forestry	5200			5362		4127
Logging		7100			7603		5577

 Wood and Wood Products 
Log Sawmilling	15700			10535		9795
Resawn and Dressed 
Timbers		8300			6692		3848
Veneer and 
Boards		7500			5187		4449
Woodchips	n.a.			790		613
Pulp and Paper 
Board		11300			7537		6528
Total		55100			43706		34937

Year			71	76	81	86	91
Forestry and Logging	12328	10441	12683	12983	9724
Wood, wood products	75545	78509	79988	74839	73963
Paper, paper products	101413	93544	100412	107017	104388
Total			190286	192935	193803	194839	188073

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics census data - in Habitat Australia November 1994.

This reduction in employment levels is due to

1. concentration and centralisation in the industry of both the sawmilling and pulp and paper industries;
   
2. increasing market share of soft wood. This has lead to a rapid decline in employment in the hardwood based industries.
   

Reference: Clarke (1990), "Plantations Can Save Our Native Forests", Habitat Australia, August; Hamilton, Clive (1995) "The Employment impact of the Decision to Reserve 509 Forest Coupes", The Australian Institute, ACT.; ABARE , "monthly summary statistics" various.

1. 30% Forestry and Logging
2. 50% Wood and Wood Products
3. 20% Pulp and Paper Industry

A 1986 ABS survey shows only 4 towns (Nannup and Manjimup in WA, Spring Bay in Tas and Penola in SA) to have more than 20% of employees in the forestry and timber industries (all below 25%). Penola derives it timber totally from plantations.

Reference: Dargavel, (1995) "Fashioning Australia's Forests", Oxford University Press.

Those towns with work force over 10% in the timber and wood products industry. Timber Work Force (logging, forestry, wood&wood products, furniture but not pulp and paper)

Years		1986		1991
Orbost		404		335	Forest
Omeo		95		19	Forest

Myrtleford	213		239	Plantation

Reference: ABS Census of Population and Housing 1986 and 1991.

Timber Work Force (logging, forestry, wood&wood products, furniture but not pulp and paper)

1. Native Forest = 9108 = 52.4%
2. Plantation = 8420 = 47.6%

If logging was removed from Nat. Estate in SE Australia, it would result in the loss of 110 jobs, which would require a retraining package of an estimated $40 million

Reference: Streeting, M. & Hamilton C. (1991) " An Economic Analysis of the forests of South East Australia."

The "reservation of the 509 coupes would not result in any job losses in 1995 unless the state forest management agencies refused to reschedule their planned 1995 operations."

Reference: Hamilton, Clive (1995) "The Employment impact of the Decision to Reserve 509 Forest Coupes", The Australian Institute, ACT.