Labor productivity statistics in the pulp and paper sector have steadily increased over the last 10 years. Employment at pulp and paper mills declined dramatically in the 1980s and 1990s due to consolidations, mergers, and mill closings. In the 1992 to 1998 period alone, pulp and paper mills lost close to 21,600 jobs, an 11% decline in employment. However, long-term trends show that paper industry employment is in step with the rest of the U.S. manufacturing sector, declining 0.4 % in the 1980s and projected to decline 0.2% during 1986-2000, compared to an average annual decline of 0.3% in the overall manufacturing sector. Technological improvements in the wood products sector have not been as pronounced as in other sectors. As a result, labor productivity statistics in the lumber and wood products sector have been either declining or relatively stable during the 1987-1996 time frame. [Miller Freeman 1998]