Forest Sector Employs 42 Million Worldwide: ILO Report

A recent joint study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) sheds crucial light on the global forest sector's employment landscape. The findings reveal that in 2022, this vital sector provided livelihoods for around 42 million individuals worldwide, constituting approximately 1.2% of all global employment. While this figure underscores the sector's significance, it also represents a slight decrease of 3.1% compared to 2011, indicating evolving employment trends.

For the first time, the research offers a comprehensive gender-disaggregated breakdown of employment, showing that women hold roughly 10.6 million jobs, or 25% of the total workforce in the forest sector. This data is particularly insightful, as it highlights disparities across different regions. The gender gap remains most pronounced in Europe, while it is less noticeable in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. "Understanding who works in the forest sector is crucial for developing a crisis-resilient forest sector, and gender-disaggregated data plays a key role here," noted Li Yong, Director of FAO's Forestry Division. This granular data is essential for crafting targeted policies that promote inclusivity and equity within the sector.

The study, which draws upon data from 182 countries covering 99% of the world's forest resources, identifies the primary concentration of jobs within wood production and manufacturing (about 58%), followed by the pulp and paper industry. The methodology employed allows for more accurate annual estimates of employment, factoring in socio-economic and demographic indicators. Notably, the report also mentions Kyrgyzstan's significant investment in forest restoration projects, allocating over 81 million soms in grants to restore forests across 2,500 hectares. This local context, while specific, reflects a broader global effort to manage and sustain forest resources, which are intrinsically linked to the employment and well-being of millions.

“

Understanding who works in the forest sector is crucial for developing a crisis-resilient forest sector, and gender-disaggregated data plays a key role here.