Forestry Workforce Census Open: Make Sure You're Counted

The UK Forestry Jobs Newsletter shares the best curated forestry jobs in the UK, from tree planting to director level.

Back in August, we wrote about the new Forestry Workforce Census and why it matters to know who is actually doing the work in forestry. Well, the first count was this week. The census asks who was working for you on 1 October 2026, and the form is open now until 30 October.

This one is for employers, not individual workers. If you run a forestry business, employ staff, use contractors or work for yourself, the person in charge should fill it in for the whole business. Sole traders & self employed count too. It covers the full range of operational work, from nurseries, ground prep and planting through to harvesting, extraction, haulage and surveying.

Why it matters

Every few weeks we come back to the same issues in this newsletter: skills shortages, pay, recruitment and keeping good people in the sector. Most of that conversation runs on gut feeling and anecdotes. This census is a chance to put real numbers behind it.

It will give the most complete picture of the forestry workforce in over 20 years. The results will help shape the Forestry Sector Skills Plan and decide where training money and support go. If smaller contractors and one-person businesses don't take part, they risk being left out of the picture (Get the census here: forestresearch.gov)

Your answers are kept strictly confidential. No individual person or business can be identified in anything that gets published. If you can't do it online, call 0300 067 5238 or email [email protected]. It's worth ten minutes of your October.

Stay safe and dry (if you can!).

Jack

P.S. If you know someone who should do the survey, why not forward this email on to them? Oh and check out the job posts on our Facebook page - remember to like and share them!