a 12 By JACK MOORE AF we or are we not getting all the facts about employment levels and productivity in the B.C. lumber industry? This question faces our members in B.C. as we examine a recent report on the Oregon lumber industry. The Oregon report is based on a study conducted jointly by the Federal and State authorities at the request of our International Officers. It reveals changes in the Pacific Northwest Lumber Industry which are so drastic as to command the close and immediate atten- tion of our Union. | RECOMMEND 1 now recommend that the Western Canadian Regional Council act to secure a similar detailed study of the lumber industry in B.C. to determine the effects of technological change. | make this recommendation for the following reasons: ] Complete statistics are not being made available in British Co- lumbia as they are in Oregon. There is no existing statistical basis of comparison. When we make allowance for timing of developments, differences in conservation laws and new capital When the spotlight was turned on conditions in Oregon for the period 1950 to 1963, the following facts came to light: The total average number of production workers in log- ging declined during the period—from 26,600 to 14,500, a decrease of 44.5%, In the same period the total number of production workers employed in sawmills and planing mills dropped from 39,200 to 23,500, or, 40%. Employment of production workers in plywood and veneer mills jumped from 6,800 to 22,500 or 250.9% in the period. LOGGING Percent change 1950 - 1963 Total employment —44.5% Average number of production workers Cin billion board feet) Total production Worker productivity rate* _.. 155.4 *Board feet per production worker per hour. Thus, between 1963 and 1975, the study projects a 36.6% reduction in employment and a 45.0% increase in worker productivity. —45.5% + 10.0% + 102.8% SAWMILLS AND PLANING MILLS 1950 1963 Total employment _........ 42,300 26,200 Average number otf Y production workers 39,200 23,500 Cin billion board feet) ..... 8.24 7.57 Total production Worker productivity rate* _.. 104.2 155.9 *Board feet per production worker per hour. Thus, between 1963 and 1975, the study projects a 24.3% reduction in employment and a 30.8% increase in the rate of productivity. Percent change 1950 - 1963 —38.1% — 40.0% — 8.2% +49.6% THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER 3 LET'S GET THE FACTS 1st Issue Aug., 1965 expansion, the employment requirements for lumber production in Oregon and B.C. tend to follow the same pattern. It is safe to say that what happens in Oregon today may happen in British Columbia tomorrow. : 2 Statistics on employment and productivity in the Canadian lum- ber industry are far from complete. The Dominion Bureau of Statistics relies on the questionnaire method to gain only very incomplete coverage, missing the greater number of small operations. Little or nothing is done for the lumber industry to measure ‘increased -productivity accurately, although we know in general terms that production levels have soared far abov employment levels. 3 The Industrial Manpower Study now being conducted by the Provincial Government is intended to cover the whole field of B.C. industry and does not give the required detailed attention to the lumber industry, the province’s major basic enterprise. 4 Provision has now been made under existing legislation to finance detailed study of manpower requirements in individual industries, if Federal and Provincial Governments cooperate with labour and management. OREGON FACTS Total employment in millwork manufacturing plants drop- ped from 7,200 to 6,200, a change of 13.8%, but these figures include non-production workers. The total employment of production workers in all four sections of the industry dropped from 79,800 in 1950 to 66,700 in 1963 (including non-production workers in the millwork section as indicated above). One valuable feature of the Oregon report is that it indi- cates the worker productivity rate as in the following tables: PLYWOOD AND VENEER MILLS 1950 1963 Total employment —_.._... 7/7200 24,200 Average number of production workers Total production (billion sq. ft. ¥%” basis) __ / 6.79 Worker productivity rate* ___ F 139.6 *Sq. ft. Ye” basis per production worker per hour. Thus, between 1963 and 1975, the study projects a 35.1% increase in employment and 45.2% increase in the rate of productivity. Percent change 1950 - 1963 + 236.1% 22,500 + 230.9% + $53.4% + 100.9% OTHER WOOD PRODUCTS Percent change 1950 - 1963 Total employment ___.-.____ 7,200 6,200 —13.8% Other wood products includes millwork, wooden containers, wood preserving, laminated beams, and board manufacturing. Data is in- complete for this segment of the industry. The projected 45.2% in- crease in employment in this segment of the industry is expected to occur primarily in the board manufacturing component. 1950 : 1963 BRITISH COLUMBIA STATISTICS The D.B.S. Annual Review for 1957 of Em- ployment and Payrolls (the earliest available) shows a monthly average of employees in B.C. “Forestry (chiefly logging)” as 10,937. The same Annual Review for 1963 under the same heading shows the monthly average of employees in B.C. “Forestry (chiefly logging)” as 10,999. In March of 1965, this same figure stands as at 11,787. The coverage is admittedly incomplete. No distinction is made between production workers . and other employees. The D.B.S. Annual Review for 1957 reports 34,637 as employed in “Saw and Planing Mills” in B.C. In 1963 this figure is shown as 34,645. Plywood mill workers are included in this figure. Again no distinction is made between pro- duction workers and other employees. The cover- age is again admittedly incomplete. In March, 1965, this figure is shown as 34,848, again in- cluding plywood mill workers. The Employment Index issued by the Pro- vincial Department of Labour is reported for “saw and planing mills” as 115.0 in 1957 and 138.2 in August 1964 (based on 1949 = 100). The same index for logging is reported as 100.8 in 1956, with a peak of 90.2 in 1963. These statistics are far from satisfactory— both because of the method of compilation and the break-down necessary to determine the act- ual requirements of manpower adjustment. Our knowledge of the substantial reduction in the working force in many large logging operations and mills causes us to wonder about the coverage of the D.B.S. reports relating to lumber produc- tion. We would be well advised to demand a detailed and separate survey of each section of the industry from which British Columbians de- rive more than 50% of their personal income.