How does Minnesota’s timber industry rank in the state’s industrial hierarchy?
Forest products manufacturing is an $8 billion a year industry in Minnesota. On this basis, it ranks third behind machinery and computer services and electronic equipment and instruments. The value of forest products manufactured in Minnesota has increased annually since 1985 when it stood at $3.8 billion. (Fig. 1, Pg. 21) How many Minnesotans does the industry employ? About 61,000 currently, including about 9,000 in primary processing and about 52,000 in secondary processing. Pulp, paper and oriented strandboard manufacturers are the dominant employers, though door, window, cabinet and truss manufacturers are also major players. (Fig. 6, Pg. 26) What the industry’s payroll, statewide? Primary and secondary wages are $3.2 billion. Secondary paper manufacturing wages accounted for 58% of the total, $1.86 billion, while secondary wood manufacturers added another $858.6 million. Primary wood and paper manufacturers paid out $326.9 million and $65.4 million respectively. Industry wages hav
