Retention Crisis: Why Forestry Careers Need Clear Progression Paths

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

Last week, we talked about pay. It clearly struck a nerve.

But pay is only part of the picture. A first job in forestry can be a brilliant way into the industry. It can teach someone practical skills, introduce them to good people and give them a proper feel for working outdoors. For plenty of us, that first role is where it all starts, on the tools, getting dirty, wet and oily.

The problem is when it feels like there is nowhere to go next.

A job should lead somewhere

Not every entry-level role will come with a big salary, a company vehicle and a clear promotion path from day one. That is not realistic. But people should be able to see how they can learn, take on more responsibility and earn more as their skills grow - if that’s what they want.

That might mean tickets and qualifications, time with an experienced supervisor, learning to run a site, moving into surveying or management, or simply being trusted with more than the same job year after year.

Forestry needs new people coming in, but it also needs good people to stay. The sector is expected to need around 600 new entrants each year simply to maintain its existing workforce, so recruitment cannot stop at filling the first vacancy.

For anyone looking at a role, it is worth asking “what comes next?”. What training is available? Who will you learn from? What could the job look like in two or three years?

And for employers, it is worth asking whether the advert shows a future as well as a vacancy.

A first job does not have to be the finished product. But it should feel like the start of something. Hopefully, something beautiful and rewarding!

Jack

P.S. You might have missed it, but we hit 6,000 followers on our Facebook page this week. If you’re not connected, give us a follow. Remember to like and share our posts, that helps us grow.