The Canadian paper products manufacturing sector is experiencing a declining trend in employee work hours, forecasted from 2024 to 2028. In 2023, the baseline was set higher than the forecasted hours in subsequent years. From 2024, the sector is expected to see a consistent year-on-year decline, with a noticeable contraction in workforce activity, dropping from 99.8 million hours in 2024 to 91.67 million hours by 2028. This represents annual percent decreases of approximately 2.17% to 2.04%. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over this period reflects an average decline in work hours, outlining a challenging future.

Future trends to watch for include:

Technological advancements potentially increasing automation and reducing the need for manual labor.
Shifts in demand for digital versus physical paper products, potentially impacting labor needs.
Sustainability initiatives influencing operational processes and workforce dynamics.