Michigan forestry industry reaches all-time high

(The Center Square) – Michigan's forest products industry has hit an all-time high, according to recent data from the Department of Natural Resources.

At a record $26.5 billion in total output, the forest industry supported 88,275 jobs in 2022.

“Although the number of people directly employed in the industry decreased by 3.6%, all other economic indicators show significant growth,” Jagdish Poudel, a DNR forest economist said.

The average salary for a forest products industry employee is nearly $80,000 annually.

“Each job in the forest products industry generates an additional 1.1 jobs in the economy,” Poudel said.

Michigan’s forestry industry creates pulp, paper, paperboard, lumber, wood furniture, and even biomass energy. The state’s forests cover 20.2 million acres of land, with nearly 4 million acres managed by the DNR.

The industry’s most recent development is a partnership with both Michigan State University and Michigan Technological University to research mass timber construction. The architectural technique allows for taller construction using wood beams, rather than traditional steel or concrete.