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ISSUE:
The forest products industry, including loggers and haulers, primary and secondary
manufacturers, pulp and paper mills, paper packaging plants and paper facilities, is one
of the largest manufacturing sectors in the US, sustaining nearly 940,000 families and
contributing $295 billion annually to the US economy. The sustainability and
competitive viability of the forest products industry relies on an intact, healthy wood
supply chain, including labor. Since 2018, the US logging and hauling sectors which are
solely responsible for harvesting and moving logs from the forest to manufacturing
facilities have seen a 2% reduction in logging business and an 8% reduction in the
workforce. The disparity between reductions in the size of the workforce and business
closures suggests remaining logging businesses are operating with fewer employees.
AMERICAN AGRI-WOMEN REQUEST:
AAW supports including language in the Rural Development Title of the 2023 Farm Bill
that directs the Secretary of Agriculture to create a grant program to establish immersive
pathway training programs focused on the work development needs of the forestry
industry.
BACKGROUND:
Rational
Targeted workforce education and training programs have been effective recruitment
tools in computer programming, utility vegetation management and automotive
industries. Regional forest industry training hubs would allow participants to stay in or
near their communities, which reduces the cost to participate and affords program
developers increased flexibility in adapting training curricula to meet regional needs
through ties to local forest products employers. The forest products industry struggles
to find trained and skilled workforce at all levels as an estimated 40-60 percent of young
adults are leaving rural forest-based economies for other employment opportunities.
Conclusion
AAW supports these key components of a workforce pathway program:
Expand existing high school forestry education curriculum by employing mobile
educational units with timber harvesting simulators, sawmills, kilns and
commonly used power/hand tools
Implement 40-hour applied skills camp to complement the applied high school
curriculum
Provide immersive field training for high school teachers to complement the
applied high school curriculum
Diversification of the forestry industry workforce through increased awareness of
career paths, the breadth of career and entrepreneurial opportunities in forestry
and wood products industries