New research shows that key performance indicators of Tasmania’s forest industries have improved after a period of decline. This is good news for Tasmania where forest industries significantly contribute to the overall health of the State’s economy, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Mr Ross Hampton said today.
The new report ‘Socio-economic impacts of the forest industry – Tasmania’ funded by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) and the Commonwealth Government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, shows employment and spending have stabilised.
The report shows:
- A total of 5,727 jobs were generated by the industry as of 2017-18, including 3,076 direct jobs and 2,651 in other industries from flow-on effects.
- The industry directly contributed more than $700 million to the value of Tasmanian output during the last financial year, increasing to $1,277 million once flow-on effects to other industries were included.
“This report is good news for Tasmania and demonstrates the resilience of the State’s forest industries which have faced difficulty in recent years,” Mr Hampton said.
“It’s also encouraging to see how important the industry is for full-time employment in Tasmania. The report shows that in 2016, 82 per cent of those working in the industry were full-time, compared with 60 per cent of the broader workforce in Tasmania.
“Optimism in the industry is good also. More than half of forest businesses believe demand for their goods and services will grow in the next 12 months, while none felt demand will reduce.
“This is excellent research that can be assessed by decision makers, who can then make informed choices about what to provide for forest industries in Tasmania going forward,” Mr Hampton concluded.
The research was conducted by the University of Canberra, in conjunction with consultancy EconSearch, a division of BDO Advisory.
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