Social partners

Social dialogue in this sector covers activities defined by NACE (Rev. 2) code 16:

• sawmilling
• manufacture of wood, cork, straw & plaiting products (except furniture).

It excludes forestry and logging.

EU-wide, the woodworking sector employs just over 1 m people (Eurostat, 2014, Labour Force Survey data), in nearly 180 000 firms (Eurostat, Business Statistics 2013).

The sector's competitive strengths include:

• the strong technology, know-how and skills base
• proximity & access to one of the world’s largest markets
• rising labour productivity, largely due to increased use of automation & information technology.

Challenges include:

• expanding the use of wood, although other materials are increasingly being used instead,
• competitive weaknesses arising from the limited awareness of the properties and opportunities of wood in the EU,
• high factor costs, causing low profitability.

Key areas

The Committee is currently focusing on:

• industry policy, including innovative actions, demographic changes & sustainable development
• vocational education & training
• health & safety
• environmental policy.

Activities & meetings

Check the library entries for this sectoral social dialogue committee.

Achievements/Joint texts

Check the social dialogue texts database