The data suggests a steady decline in the sawmilling and planing of wood hours worked in the UK from 2024 to 2028. In 2023, the hours worked stood at 11.5 million. For 2024, the hours worked are forecasted to be 11.226 million, followed by successive yearly decreases: 10.937 million in 2025, 10.653 million in 2026, 10.375 million in 2027, and 10.103 million in 2028. This represents a year-on-year decrease of 2.6% from 2024 to 2025, 2.6% from 2025 to 2026, 2.6% from 2026 to 2027, and 2.6% from 2027 to 2028. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2023 to 2028 is approximately -2.6%, indicating a continuous downward trend in the sector.
Future trends to watch for include potential impacts of automation and technology advancements in the sawmilling and planing sector, shifts in demand for wood products, sustainability initiatives influencing industry practices, and economic conditions affecting construction and manufacturing activities. Monitoring these factors could provide insights into further fluctuations in labor demand.
