Employment structure and training needs in the Louisiana value-added wood products industry

Research has shown that there is significant employment demand in the wood products industry in Louisiana. The need to develop and sustain training programs for the forest products industry is immediate and critical. Just over a third of respondents had plans to increase employment in 1999 while 43 percent said they will add employees in the subsequent 3-year period. However, the most prevalent reason why respondents are not adding employees is the lack of adequately trained labor. This paper indicates that in order for Louisiana value-added wood products manufacturers to be able to be competitive in the marketplace, appropriate training of the workforce must become a priority.