More than half of Michigan is forested, and 95 percent of that forest land can be used for the production of timber, a renewable and sustainably-managed resource. The State of Michigan manages 21 percent of forest land.  Forests in Michigan are managed for timber production, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, biodiversity conservation and recreation. 

Based on 2019 data, we estimate that Michigan's forest products industries provide direct employment to almost 42,000 people, leading to $13.4 billion in economic output. That same year, direct labor income was $2.8 billion and direct value-added was $3.8 billion. In total contributions (direct, indirect, and induced), these industries support over 90,000 jobs, $5.5 billion in labor income, $8.3 billion in value-added and about $22 billion in total output.

Since 2014, the direct jobs in forest products industries increased by 9.7%, direct output increased by 15.7%, value-added increased by almost 22%, labor income increased by 23.5% and average wages per job increased by 12.5%.