Forest Businesses_Content Page_Fact Sheets

Forestry and the Wisconsin Economy

The forest products industry in Wisconsin provides over 58,000 direct full- and part-time jobs with an industry output of $24.2 billion and value-added of $7.2 billion in 2020. It ranks twelfth in terms of the number of full- and part-time jobs, eighth in value-added, and second in industry output in the state. Every 10 jobs in the forest products industry support an additional 12 jobs in other state sectors. Combining direct, indirect and induced effects, the industry contributes 130,000 jobs with an annual gross output of $37.1 billion.

  • The forest products industry:
    • Is the number one employer in eight counties: Florence, Iron, Marathon, Price, Rusk, Taylor, Trempealeau and Winnebago;
    • Is one of the top 10 employers in 31 counties: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Brown, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Florence, Forest, Iron, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vilas, Washburn, Waupaca, Winnebago and Wood;
    • Is the number one industry for value-added in eight counties: Marinette, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Trempealeau, Winnebago and Wood;
    • Is one of the top 10 industries for value-added in 32 counties: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Brown, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vilas, Washburn, Washington, Waupaca, Winnebago and Wood;
    • Is number one for industry output in 15 counties: Brown, Chippewa, Dunn, Florence, Iron, Marinette, Oneida, Outagamie, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Trempealeau, Waupaca, Winnebago and Wood;
    • Is one of the top 10 industries for industry output in 40 counties: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Brown, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Jefferson, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Rusk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vilas, Washburn, Washington, Waupaca, Winnebago and Wood;
  • Brown County has the largest number of forest products industry jobs, industry output and value-added in the state.
  • Trempealeau County has the largest number of sawmills and wood products jobs, industry output and value-added in the state.
  • Brown County has the largest number of pulp and paper products jobs and industry output in the state, whereas Winnebago County has the highest value-added.

Economic fact sheets

View a statewide fact sheet as a PDF:



View a particular county fact sheet as a PDF:


The DNR Division of Forestry has used the latest data to model the economic contributions of the forest industry in Wisconsin as a whole and for each individual county using the Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN). This software was originally developed by the U.S. Forest Service in cooperation with the University of Minnesota and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The model is designed to estimate the economic effects of an industry on the local or regional economy. For more details about the database and how we’ve used IMPLAN, contact the division’s forest economist.

Economic Contributions of Urban Forestry

Wisconsin’s urban forests (trees in cities, suburbs, and other developed areas) are an important component of natural resources, making significant economic contributions to local, state and national economies.

In a ground-breaking study led by the Wisconsin DNR, a comprehensive analysis of the economic contributions of urban and community forestry was completed across Wisconsin and fifteen other states within the Northeast-Midwest region. To see Wisconsin’s economic impact numbers, employment number, industry outlook and a resource valuation, see the Wisconsin full report [PDF exit DNR] and fact sheet [PDF exit DNR]. Regional, Methodological and other state reports and factsheets can be found on the Northeast-Midwest State Foresters Alliance website​ [exit DNR].

Reports