The U.S. hardwood industry is a fully integrated sector that spans forest management, logging, mills, and the manufacturing of finished consumer goods like flooring, cabinets, furniture, and railway ties. The vast majority of jobs it supports are in rural and underserved areas. However, rising costs, declining domestic demand, and trade disruptions have forced a significant number of operations to close, threatening the retention and health of hardwood forests and livelihoods of communities across the country.  

The Endowment supported the Hardwood Federation’s update of its U.S. Hardwood Industry Economic Impact Study, a comprehensive analysis of the hardwood sector’s contribution to economies in all 50 states. Using 2022 federal data, the study quantifies employment, gross domestic product, labor income, output, and tax revenue generated by the hardwood industry at both the state and national levels. A supplemental analysis examines the significant challenges the industry has faced since 2022, including steep declines in exports, production, and employment. Together, these reports provide policymakers, industry leaders, and the public with the data needed to make the case for policies that sustain this vital sector.  

This initiative is a prime example of how investing in robust, state-level economic data can support an industry that ensures rural jobs, healthy forests, and communities across the United States. 

View the full reports: 

• U.S. Hardwood Industry Economic Impact Study 

• Supplemental Analysis: Industry Challenges (2022–2024)