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Is the
Lumber and Wood Products industry really important to Pennsylvania’s
Heartland?
The industry
employs over 14,000 people in the Heartland. While this may not
seem like a large number, employment in this industry has grown
by over 30% since 1995. It is one of two manufacturing sectors
showing growth in rural
Pennsylvania. While employment in the industry is found in each
of the counties in Pennsylvania’s Heartland, it is a critical
economic component in some. In Pennsylvania's Heartland there
are more than 350 companies in the lumber and wood products
industry.
*Source: Center for Workforce Information and
Analysis and compiled by the CPWDC.
Did you know
that there is a projected industry growth of over 700 jobs in
the Lumber and Wood Products industry by 2010?
What are some
benefits of working in lumber and wood products?
· Flexibility
– Many manufacturing facilities run around the clock, creating
opportunities for working
shifts that appeal to your lifestyle.
· Skill
ladders
– The skills
acquired as an employee in the lumber and wood products industry
may be transferable to industries like construction or other
types of manufacturing.
· Family
sustaining wages
– The
average manufacturing employee earns $28,800 annually.
Educational Requirements for Manufacturing
There are career opportunities
within the lumber and wood products industry available to
individuals with a wide variety of education and experience. In
fact, the majority of the jobs in manufacturing are obtainable
with little formalized education, with training taking place on
the job. Here are some selected examples:
|
Occupation |
Minimum Education Required
|
Average Salary |
|
Hand
Packers and Packagers |
Short-Term
On-the-Job Training |
$18,833 |
|
Industrial
Truck and Tractor Operators |
Short-Term
On-the-Job Training |
$26,015 |
|
Wood
Working Machine Operators |
Moderate-Term On-the-Job Training |
$24,459 |
|
Production
Inspectors and Testers |
Moderate-Term On-the-Job Training |
$26,128 |
|
Wood
Machinists |
Long-Term
On-the-Job Training |
$29,832 |
|
Carpenters |
Long-Term
On-the-Job Training |
$26,741 |
|
Furniture
Finishers |
Long-Term
On-the-Job Training |
|
|
Mechanical
Drafters |
Vocational
Training |
$36,847 |
|
Production
Supervisors |
Work
Experience Beyond Training |
$41,072 |
|
Industrial
Production Managers |
Bachelor’s
Degree |
$26,015 |
|
Plant /
General Managers |
Bachelor’s
Degree |
$58,450 |
|
|
|
|
*Source:
Center for Workforce Information and Analysis and compiled by
CPWDC.
Major Lumber
and Wood Companies —Who Are They?
Pennsylvania’s Heartland is home to more
than 350 companies involved in at least one phase of lumber and
wood products manufacturing. It’s surprising what is manufactured
right here in our own backyard. Here are just some examples.
|
Company |
Website |
Product Description |
|
Bingaman and Son Lumber |
www.bingamanlumber.com |
Kiln-dried Appalachian
hardwoods for a wide variety of uses |
|
Catawissa Lumber and Wood
Specialty |
www.catlmbr.com |
25 million board feet of
lumber into hundreds of thousands of wood components each year
– panels, drawers, stair treads, etc. |
|
Kuhns Bros. Lumber |
www.kuhnsbroslumber.com |
14 million board feet of
lumber per year |
|
Ritz-Craft |
www.ritz-craft.com |
Modular homes,
manufactured housing and retirement homes for community
developments |
|
Spectra Wood |
www.spectrawood.com |
Middle to
high-end furniture manufacturing, custom institutional
furniture, custom finishing |
|
Woodcraft Industries |
www.woodcraftindustries.com |
Quality
assembled unfinished furniture |
|
Wood-Mode, Inc. |
www.wood-mode.com |
High end custom-made cabinetry
for households |
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