Canada-wide business adviser PwC has produced an economic study confirming the forest sector continues to be a cornerstone of B-C's economy and one of the largest employers in the province.
The study assessed the economic impact of the industry's ongoing operations, employment and capital spending province-wide.
It shows forestry generated one out of every 17 jobs in B-C last year -- or more than 140-thousand direct, indirect or induced positions -- generating a total of nearly nine-billion dollars in wages.
Rick Jeffery, President & CEO, Coast Forest Products Association says we can't let our guard down.
"So what I think the key message is to the provincial government and federal governments are is that we need to maintain competitiveness. Competitiveness is the cornerstone of driving investment. So if we want to continue to invest in all the exciting things we are doing now, we need to make sure we are competitive."
The B.C. forest industry has also worked hard alongside provincial and federal governments to diversify our markets overseas, with China now accounting for 24 per cent of B.C.'s forest product exports.