GITNUXREPORT 2025

Hr In The Lumber Industry Statistics

Lumber industry faces HR talent, retention, safety, diversity, technology challenges.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The median annual wage for lumber industry workers is around $40,000

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42% of lumber industry employees are covered by health insurance provided through their employer

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The average wage increase for HR positions in the lumber industry is approximately 3% annually

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An estimated 18% of lumber company HR budgets are dedicated to employee benefits and wellness

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12% of lumber companies have gender diversity initiatives for their HR teams

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65% of HR professionals in the lumber industry report using employee engagement surveys

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Approximately 25% of HR initiatives in lumber companies are focused on diversity and inclusion

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28% of lumber companies have diversity hiring goals for their HR teams

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44% of lumber industry firms have integrated sustainability into their HR policies

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60% of lumber industry firms report difficulty in hiring qualified HR personnel

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45% of HR departments in lumber companies have adopted digital onboarding processes

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22% of HR professionals in the lumber industry report high turnover rates annually

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The average tenure of HR managers in the lumber industry is approximately 4.5 years

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29% of HR departments in lumber firms have implemented AI-based recruitment tools

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Employee training hours in the lumber industry average 25 hours per year

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75% of lumber companies offer some form of remote work for administrative HR roles

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The turnover rate for HR staff in the lumber industry is estimated at 10% annually

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50% of lumber companies use HR software for payroll and benefits management

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55% of HR departments in lumber firms have adopted learning management systems to train workers

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Lumber industry HR professionals on average work 45 hours a week

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80% of HR managers in the lumber industry believe that technology improves hiring quality

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32% of HR departments in lumber companies prioritize sustainability initiatives in their employee programs

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70% of HR professionals in the lumber industry use social media for recruitment purposes

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40% of lumber industry businesses have adopted automated HR reporting tools

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30% of lumber companies report challenges in employee onboarding due to remote work

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55% of HR professionals in the lumber industry are planning to increase their use of HR analytics in the next two years

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5% of lumber industry HR budgets are allocated to employee training in new machinery and technology

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Nearly 50% of lumber industry HR positions are filled through external recruitment agencies

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The average tenure of employees in the lumber industry is around 6 years

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The overall employment in the lumber industry in the U.S. is approximately 75,000 workers

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Approximately 35% of lumber industry employees are aged between 45 and 64

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About 15% of lumber industry workers are covered by union agreements

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33% of lumber industry HR managers cite retention as their top challenge

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Approximately 8% of positions in lumber companies are filled through internal promotions

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20% of lumber industry HR budgets are allocated to recruiting and onboarding

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The percentage of skilled labor in the lumber industry is estimated at 60%

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23% of lumber firms participate in government apprenticeship programs to train new workers

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16% of employees in the lumber industry are foreign nationals

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12% of HR managers in the lumber industry have implemented flexible working hours

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The average age of HR executives in the lumber sector is approximately 48 years

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The percentage of women in HR roles within the lumber sector is approximately 32%

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40% of lumber companies invest in wellness programs for their employees

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48% of lumber companies provide ergonomic training to reduce workplace injuries

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The rate of workplace accidents in the lumber industry is approximately 5.2 incidents per 100 full-time workers annually

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35% of employees in the lumber industry report feeling satisfied with their work-life balance

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13% of lumber companies have implemented mental health support programs

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About 26% of lumber workers have access to employee assistance programs

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67% of lumber industry HR managers report increased focus on safety training post-pandemic

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21% of lumber companies have implemented telehealth services for employees

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13% of lumber companies have specialized HR training programs for safety compliance

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Key Highlights

The overall employment in the lumber industry in the U.S. is approximately 75,000 workers
Approximately 35% of lumber industry employees are aged between 45 and 64
The median annual wage for lumber industry workers is around $40,000
60% of lumber industry firms report difficulty in hiring qualified HR personnel
45% of HR departments in lumber companies have adopted digital onboarding processes
22% of HR professionals in the lumber industry report high turnover rates annually
About 15% of lumber industry workers are covered by union agreements
40% of lumber companies invest in wellness programs for their employees
The average tenure of HR managers in the lumber industry is approximately 4.5 years
48% of lumber companies provide ergonomic training to reduce workplace injuries
29% of HR departments in lumber firms have implemented AI-based recruitment tools
Employee training hours in the lumber industry average 25 hours per year
33% of lumber industry HR managers cite retention as their top challenge

With a workforce of roughly 75,000 and ongoing challenges like high turnover, recruitment struggles, and a rising focus on technology and safety, the lumber industry’s human resources landscape is evolving rapidly—highlighting both hurdles and opportunities in managing one of the nation’s oldest yet most dynamic sectors.

Compensation and Benefits

The median annual wage for lumber industry workers is around $40,000
42% of lumber industry employees are covered by health insurance provided through their employer
The average wage increase for HR positions in the lumber industry is approximately 3% annually
An estimated 18% of lumber company HR budgets are dedicated to employee benefits and wellness

Compensation and Benefits Interpretation

While the median wage for lumber industry workers hovers around $40,000—bolstered only modestly by a 3% annual HR raise—it's telling that nearly half receive employer-sponsored health coverage and only 18% of HR budgets prioritize employee wellness, highlighting an industry that still has timber to chop when it comes to investing in its most valuable resource: its people.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Employee Engagement

12% of lumber companies have gender diversity initiatives for their HR teams
65% of HR professionals in the lumber industry report using employee engagement surveys
Approximately 25% of HR initiatives in lumber companies are focused on diversity and inclusion
28% of lumber companies have diversity hiring goals for their HR teams
44% of lumber industry firms have integrated sustainability into their HR policies

Diversity, Inclusion, and Employee Engagement Interpretation

While over a quarter of lumber companies aim to grow their diversity and inclusion efforts and nearly half embed sustainability into HR policies, the lumber industry's gender diversity initiatives still trail behind, highlighting a woodshed-sized gap between aspiration and action in crafting a more equitable workforce.

Human Resources Management and Organizational Practices

60% of lumber industry firms report difficulty in hiring qualified HR personnel
45% of HR departments in lumber companies have adopted digital onboarding processes
22% of HR professionals in the lumber industry report high turnover rates annually
The average tenure of HR managers in the lumber industry is approximately 4.5 years
29% of HR departments in lumber firms have implemented AI-based recruitment tools
Employee training hours in the lumber industry average 25 hours per year
75% of lumber companies offer some form of remote work for administrative HR roles
The turnover rate for HR staff in the lumber industry is estimated at 10% annually
50% of lumber companies use HR software for payroll and benefits management
55% of HR departments in lumber firms have adopted learning management systems to train workers
Lumber industry HR professionals on average work 45 hours a week
80% of HR managers in the lumber industry believe that technology improves hiring quality
32% of HR departments in lumber companies prioritize sustainability initiatives in their employee programs
70% of HR professionals in the lumber industry use social media for recruitment purposes
40% of lumber industry businesses have adopted automated HR reporting tools
30% of lumber companies report challenges in employee onboarding due to remote work
55% of HR professionals in the lumber industry are planning to increase their use of HR analytics in the next two years
5% of lumber industry HR budgets are allocated to employee training in new machinery and technology
Nearly 50% of lumber industry HR positions are filled through external recruitment agencies
The average tenure of employees in the lumber industry is around 6 years

Human Resources Management and Organizational Practices Interpretation

Despite embracing digital and AI tools to boost hiring and training, the lumber industry’s HR landscape reveals a persistent challenge: a high turnover rate with HR managers lasting just under five years, reflecting a sector caught between technological innovation and the ongoing struggle to attract and retain qualified personnel—making it clear that in lumber, hard hats aren’t the only thing that needs replacing.

Workforce Composition and Employment Demographics

The overall employment in the lumber industry in the U.S. is approximately 75,000 workers
Approximately 35% of lumber industry employees are aged between 45 and 64
About 15% of lumber industry workers are covered by union agreements
33% of lumber industry HR managers cite retention as their top challenge
Approximately 8% of positions in lumber companies are filled through internal promotions
20% of lumber industry HR budgets are allocated to recruiting and onboarding
The percentage of skilled labor in the lumber industry is estimated at 60%
23% of lumber firms participate in government apprenticeship programs to train new workers
16% of employees in the lumber industry are foreign nationals
12% of HR managers in the lumber industry have implemented flexible working hours
The average age of HR executives in the lumber sector is approximately 48 years
The percentage of women in HR roles within the lumber sector is approximately 32%

Workforce Composition and Employment Demographics Interpretation

Despite a loyal workforce and a steady skilled labor base, the U.S. lumber industry grapples with retention challenges and an aging demographic, all while underutilizing internal promotions and embracing flexible work arrangements to stay productive amid evolving workforce dynamics.

Workplace Safety and Well-being

40% of lumber companies invest in wellness programs for their employees
48% of lumber companies provide ergonomic training to reduce workplace injuries
The rate of workplace accidents in the lumber industry is approximately 5.2 incidents per 100 full-time workers annually
35% of employees in the lumber industry report feeling satisfied with their work-life balance
13% of lumber companies have implemented mental health support programs
About 26% of lumber workers have access to employee assistance programs
67% of lumber industry HR managers report increased focus on safety training post-pandemic
21% of lumber companies have implemented telehealth services for employees
13% of lumber companies have specialized HR training programs for safety compliance

Workplace Safety and Well-being Interpretation

Despite industry strides toward well-being, with nearly half investing in ergonomics and over a quarter offering employee assistance programs, the lumber sector still faces a 5.2 incident rate per 100 workers, highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing safety, mental health support, and work-life satisfaction in a traditionally rugged industry.