Around 2.7 million workers are currently employed in these industries within the EU, spread over some 270,000 companies. The wood and furniture sector is made up of several subsectors: forestry, sawmilling, wood based panels, building materials, upholstery furniture, kitchen furniture, office furniture and housing furniture.

The European Sectoral Social Dialogue (ESSD) for the woodworking sector started in 1994 with a memorandum of understanding between EFBWW and CEI-Bois. The social partners for the furniture sector are UEA and EFIC.