Forestry and Logging

• Forestry and logging is a relatively small industry group in B.C. in terms of employment. Forestry products, however, are a valuable export commodity.
• A high proportion of jobs in this industry are located in the Thompson-Okanagan, Vancouver Island and Coast regions and in the northern regions of the province.
• Wages in the forestry and logging industry for males are above the provincial average, and are average for women and youth.

The Forestry and logging industry group is primarily engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber on a long production cycle (10 years or more).

Long production cycles involve different processes than do short ones. Short production cycles, such as those used in growing Christmas trees, require more horticultural interventions prior to harvest. As a result, production involving cycles of less than 10 years are included under the Crop production industry within the Agriculture, fishing and hunting industry group.

Industries within the Forestry and logging industry group specialize in different stages of the production cycle, including reforestation, timber production, harvesting and gathering of forest products.

1131 Timber Tract Operations 
1132 Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products 
1133 Logging

Source: Adapted from Statistics Canada, North American Industry Classification System, Canada 2002, Catalogue No. 12-501-XPE.