Other important issues are the health and safety of products and their use as well as cooperation with local communities.

Direct and indirect jobs

The Finnish forest industry and the forest cluster that has built up around it are substantial providers of employment, directly and indirectly employing almost 200,000 people in Finland, in addition to which the industry has some 50,000 employees in other countries. In addition to this, there are almost 500,000 Finns in the network of indirect and direct economical impacts.

One of the major industries in Finland

One in ten Finns earns his or her living from the forest industry or from lines of business that serve it. The overall knowledge and competence associated with the forest industry has created a growing forest cluster that is becoming increasingly international.

The forest industry has prepared for its future competence needs by defining objectives and goals for education and the development of key competence areas. The aim is to strengthen the multiple skills in vocational education as well as to modernise third-level degrees.

The Finnish forest industry is an active participant in standardisation efforts that have the aim of ensuring the health and safety of the products it manufactures.