16,920 individuals worked in the Forest industry group (Forestry, Logging, and Forest Support Services) across 2021, with 59% working as an employee. There is significant variation between industries, with the majority in Logging working as employees, whereas in Forestry only around one quarter are employees.
Around one third workers identify as Māori, which is significantly higher than other industries across Muka Tangata and the national average (national benchmark). Māori make up an especially large part of the Logging and Forest Support Service workforces. The Forestry industry has less ethnic diversity and an older age profile with around 60% of workers aged 55 or older. Less than one quarter of those working in the Forest industry group identify as female.
There has been a small but steady increase in the number of employees since 2015. Overall, the Forest industry group has a high percentage of workers who are self-employed or an employer compared to other industries across Muka Tangata, and this is particularly high within the Forestry industry. Since 2018, there has been a trend towards more employees and fewer employers in the Forestry industry.
There are seasonal cycles in the number of employees per month working in Forest Support Services. The number of employees peaks in July and is lowest December through to April. There is no evidence of seasonal cycles in employee counts for Forestry or Logging. There has been an increasing trend in the monthly number of employees working in Forestry industry since 2018.