--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/a-detailed-analysis-of-productivity-trends-in-the-forest-products-sector-in-quebec-2000-2013-adversity-drives-productivity/" title: "A Detailed Analysis of Productivity Trends in the Forest Products Sector in Quebec, 2000-2013: Adversity Drives Productivity" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T12:55:05+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T12:55:05+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "forest products" - "forestry" - "logging" - "paper manufacturing" - "productivity" - "Quebec" - "wood product manufacturing" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "QC" research_theme: - "Productivity and Economic Measurement" - "Regional Economic Development" - "Sector/Industry Analysis" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # A Detailed Analysis of Productivity Trends in the Forest Products Sector in Quebec, 2000-2013: Adversity Drives Productivity Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/a-detailed-analysis-of-productivity-trends-in-the-forest-products-sector-in-quebec-2000-2013-adversity-drives-productivity/ # A Detailed Analysis of Productivity Trends in the Forest Products Sector in Quebec, 2000-2013: Adversity Drives Productivity [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2015-05-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Thomas, Jasmin. 2015. “A Detailed Analysis of Productivity Trends in the Forest Products Sector in Quebec, 2000-2013: Adversity Drives Productivity.” CSLS Research Report 2015-05. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/a-detailed-analysis-of-productivity-trends-in-the-forest-products-sector-in-quebec-2000-2013-adversity-drives-productivity/ ## Author: - Jasmin Thomas Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2015-05 July 2015 126 pages ## Related research [Productivity Trends in Natural Resources Industries in Canada Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-01a | 69 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-in-natural-resources-industries-in-canada/) [Productivity in the Forest Products Sector: A Review of the Literature Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-02 | 28 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-in-the-forest-products-sector-a-review-of-the-literature/) [An Analysis of Productivity Trends in the Forest Products Sector in Canada Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2003 | Report 2003-01b | 64 pages](https://csls.ca/research/an-analysis-of-productivity-trends-in-the-forest-products-sector-in-canada/) [Why Are Americans More Productive Than Canadians? 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While the wood product manufacturing subsector has also benefited from strong productivity gains, the productivity performance of the paper manufacturing subsector has been far from impressive. This report provides a detailed analysis of output, input and productivity trends in the Canadian forest products sector. It also looks at the key drivers of productivity in the sector, investigating potential barriers to productivity growth and discussing policies that could enable faster growth. Given the increasing role of countries with low-labour costs in several forest product markets, maintaining robust productivity growth is an imperative for the Quebec forest products sector if it wants to remain competitive internationally. In this vein, the report recommends a renewed focus on human and physical capital investment, as well as on R&D spending and the introduction of new innovative products. Le secteur des produits forestiers du Québec a affiché une performance de productivité supérieure à la moyenne au cours de la période 2000-2013, portée notamment par le sous-secteur de la foresterie et de l’exploitation forestière. Bien que le sous-secteur de la fabrication de produits du bois ait également bénéficié de gains de productivité importants, la performance du sous-secteur de la fabrication du papier a été loin d’être impressionnante. Ce rapport propose une analyse détaillée des tendances de la production, des intrants et de la productivité dans le secteur canadien des produits forestiers. Il examine également les principaux moteurs de la productivité dans le secteur, en étudiant les obstacles potentiels à la croissance de la productivité et en discutant des politiques susceptibles de favoriser une croissance plus rapide. Étant donné le rôle croissant des pays à faible coût de main-d’œuvre sur plusieurs marchés des produits forestiers, le maintien d’une croissance robuste de la productivité est impératif pour que le secteur des produits forestiers du Québec demeure concurrentiel à l’échelle internationale. Dans cette optique, le rapport recommande de renouveler l’accent sur l’investissement en capital humain et physique, ainsi que sur les dépenses en R-D et l’introduction de nouveaux produits novateurs. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2015-05-1.pdf)