--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/a-detailed-analysis-of-the-productivity-performance-of-the-canadian-forest-products-sector-since-2000/" title: "A Detailed Analysis of the Productivity Performance of the Canadian Forest Products Sector Since 2000" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T13:32:57+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T13:32:57+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "Canada" - "forest products" - "forestry" - "labour productivity" - "logging" - "paper manufacturing" - "productivity" - "wood products" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Productivity and Economic Measurement" - "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 the Productivity Performance of the Canadian Forest Products Sector Since 2000 Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/a-detailed-analysis-of-the-productivity-performance-of-the-canadian-forest-products-sector-since-2000/ # A Detailed Analysis of the Productivity Performance of the Canadian Forest Products Sector Since 2000 [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2009-09-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Harrison, Peter, and Andrew Sharpe. 2009. “A Detailed Analysis of the Productivity Performance of the Canadian Forest Products Sector Since 2000.” CSLS Research Report 2009-09. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/a-detailed-analysis-of-the-productivity-performance-of-the-canadian-forest-products-sector-since-2000/ ## Authors: - Peter Harrison Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) - Andrew Sharpe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2009-09 October 2009 113 pages ## Related research [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver March 2016 | Report 2016-03 | 132 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy-2016-03/) [Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing Andrew Sharpe, Christopher Ross November 2011 | Report 2011-17 | 124 pages](https://csls.ca/research/living-standards-domain-of-the-canadian-index-of-wellbeing-2011-17/) [Productivity: Key to Economic Success Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) March 1998 | Report 1998-01 | 99 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-key-to-economic-success/) [Productivity Trends: A Canada-U.S. Comparison Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) January 1999 | Report 1999-01 | 6 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-a-canada-u-s-comparison/) [New Estimates of Manufacturing Productivity Growth for Canada and the United States Andrew Sharpe March 1999 | Report 1999-02 | 21 pages](https://csls.ca/research/new-estimates-of-manufacturing-productivity-growth-for-canada-and-the-united-states/) [Apprenticeship in Canada: A Training System Under Siege? Andrew Sharpe December 1999 | Report 1999-03 | 59 pages](https://csls.ca/research/apprenticeship-in-canadaa-training-system-under-siege/) [A Survey of Indicators of Economic and Social Well-being Andrew Sharpe July 1999 | Report 1999-cprn | 72 pages](https://csls.ca/research/a-survey-of-indicators-of-economic-and-social-well-being/) [Creating a More Efficient Labour Market Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2001 | Report 2001-02 | 147 pages](https://csls.ca/research/creating-a-more-efficient-labour-market/) [Productivity Trends in the Construction Sector: A Case of Lagging Technical Progress Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) November 2001 | Report 2001-03 | 177 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-trends-in-the-construction-sector-a-case-of-lagging-technical-progress/) [The Impact of the National Child Benefit Supplement on the Low Income Status of Canadian Families with Children: The SPSD/M Results Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) June 2002 | Report 2002-01 | 59 pages](https://csls.ca/research/the-impact-of-the-national-child-benefit-supplement-on-the-low-income-status-of-canadian-families-with-children-the-spsd-m-results/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn The forest products sector in Canada has faced hard times since 2000. In terms of productivity growth, the sector as a whole has performed poorly relative to the total economy average. Labour productivity in the sector grew by 0.38 per cent per year between 2000 and 2007, below the economy-wide average of 0.98 per cent per year over the same period. This sub-par performance is entirely attributable to the paper manufacturing subsector, where labour productivity has collapsed since 2000. The other two subsectors within the forest products sector – forestry and logging and wood product manufacturing – experienced above average productivity growth over the 2000-2007 period, but much of this improvement has come from cuts in inputs (labour and capital) that have exceeded cuts in real output. This is an unsustainable source of productivity growth in the long run. Le secteur des produits forestiers du Canada traverse une période difficile depuis 2000. Sur le plan de la croissance de la productivité, le secteur dans son ensemble a affiché une faible performance par rapport à la moyenne de l’ensemble de l’économie. La productivité du travail dans le secteur a augmenté de 0,38 % par année entre 2000 et 2007, en deçà de la moyenne de l’ensemble de l’économie de 0,98 % par année durant la même période. Cette sous-performance est entièrement attribuable au sous-secteur de la fabrication du papier, où la productivité du travail s’est effondrée depuis 2000. Les deux autres sous-secteurs des produits forestiers — la foresterie et l’exploitation forestière, et la fabrication de produits du bois — ont affiché une croissance de la productivité supérieure à la moyenne durant la période 2000-2007, mais une grande partie de cette amélioration provient de réductions des intrants (main-d’œuvre et capital) qui ont dépassé les réductions de la production réelle. Il s’agit d’une source de croissance de la productivité non durable à long terme. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2009-09-1.pdf)