Forest Economy Workforce Development
Vermont Forest Economy Career Guide
The Vermont Forest Economy Career Guide
The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund and the Vermont Forest Industry Network recently released a forest economy career guide that will help those interested in learning more about jobs in the forest economy! This career guide looks at the wide range of forest economy careers along with important details such as titles, starting salaries, and degrees or training required. You CAN make a living playing the woods!
Explore Jobs in Vermont’s Forest Economy
Video Resources
Working in Forestry – Stewards of Our Forests
Working in Forestry – Stewards of Our Forests
Meet Charlie Hancock, a consulting forester and owner of Northwoods Forestry. Like many Vermonters, Charlie grew up in and around forests and has an affinity for nature and being outdoors. His love for the outdoors led him to pursue a career in forestry where he can spend time in nature helping our forests thrive!
Sawmilling – A Zero Waste Mindset
Sawmilling – A Zero Waste Mindset
A career in sawmilling is an exciting, engaging work experience. No two days look the same for Trevor Allard, vice president of Allard Lumber Company. His advice to those interested in a career in lumber is to have a strong work ethic and stay motivated. Sawmilling is serious business that requires mechanical know-how, but it is also where you can help turn logs into lumber used for so many products we use every day!
Woodworking – From the Woods to Woodshops
Woodworking – From the Woods to Woodshops
Woodworkers are responsible for turning a rough board into a final product, including both the technical and creative steps along the way. Meet Jared Williams and Catherine Emil, two woodworkers who pursued their passions and landed careers in woodworking. This engaging career allows them to use their creativity to build whatever they dream up!
Additional Workforce Resources
The Vermont Forest Industry Network hosted a workforce meetup in the fall of 2021 to discuss Vermont’s workforce development landscape, challenges, and opportunities as they relate to our forest economy. The Meet Up explored statewide initiatives to address worker shortages to forest economy projects seeking to address gaps within the forest and wood products industry. Vermont has a tremendous number of resources for employers and employees. Below you’ll find access links to presentations, programs and other helpful contacts.
A Changing Workforce – Articles about Workplace Culture
Vermont Forest Economy Workforce Programs
- Vermont Training Program
Upskill and train existing Vermont employees. - Vermont Technical College Employer Partner Program
Workforce education and training, including customized workshops, that lead to certification degree programs and more. The VTC Employer Partner Program helps to recruit and engage future and current students in Vermont’s workforce. - Logger Education and Professionalism (LEAP)
Provides education, training, and safety certifications to Vermont loggers. - Vermont Manufacturers Extension Center
Provides consulting, training, and coaching to Vermont manufacturers. Through Lean Manufacturing training, businesses may be able to reduce the need for additional workers through automation strategies and a more efficient workflow. - Vermont Talent Pipeline
Connects employer needs with training programs and funding resources to better prepare the labor force with job-ready skills. - Employee Recruitment Resources
A number of organizations offer employee recruitment services in Vermont, including ETS and Working Fields. - Vermont Works for Women
Offers employment and career services for women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals. - Vermont Correctional Industries
Offers inmates paid job training in wood manufacturing and other trades to help them build skills to prepare for a career for when they re-enter the workforce. The woodshop produces a wide variety of wood furniture and other wood products. - Vermont Workforce Development Resources
ThinkVT, a website for prospective Vermont residents and businesses, has a section of its website devoted to Vermont workforce statistics and resources. ThinkVT also has a page outlining business incentives, financing, and other special programs here. - Regional Development Corporations
Located throughout Vermont, these organizations can assist businesses with employee recruitment, training, and other business assistance. - Vermont Department of Education: Career and Technical Education Centers
Vermont Career and Technical Education Centers, located across the state provide education and technical training to high school and adult students; some offer classes in forestry, sawyering, construction woodworking, and related fields. - Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
With funding through VTC teaches youth woods skills while providing landowners a crew to handle timber stand improvement projects. - Northern Vermont University Center for Professional Studies
Offers non-degree programs and certifications as well as internship/work experiences for degree-seeking students. The NVU Forest Economy Accelerator Program is an intensive three-month program for innovative Forest Product Businesses. - UVM Rubenstein School Forestry Program
Prepares students with the skills to solve the complex problems facing forest ecosystems, sustainable forest management, and conservation. - Vermont Woodworking School
Trains students in fine woodworking and furniture design. - Agency of Agriculture, Working Lands Enterprise Initiative
Provides technical and financial assistance to help working lands businesses innovate and grow.
Vermont Forestry Industry Summit
2024 VT Forest Industry Summit
SAVE THE DATE:
June 6, 2024
Bolton Valley Resort
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Vermont’s Forestry Industry
Vermont’s forest products industry generates an annual economic output of $1.5 billion and supports 10,000 jobs. In addition, Vermont’s forest recreation economy generates another $1.9 billion in economic output, and supports 10,000 additional jobs. The industry was hit hard in the 2008 Recession, and finding markets for low grade wood (the majority of wood harvested from Vermont’s forests) is becoming increasingly difficult due to a sharp decline in the region’s pulp industry, combined with the low price of oil and a move away from expanding electric-only biomass in the region. Markets for high grade wood are healthy, but cannot singularly sustain Vermont’s forest products industry. Without healthy markets for low grade wood, Vermont is likely to see continued decline in the industry’s in-state infrastructure such as logging operations, sawmills and kilns, as well as the local jobs they sustained.
Our Role
Over the past 20 years, the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund has provided industry analysis, expertise and project support, which positions the Vermont Forest Products Program to have a positive impact on the state’s forestry sector in rural communities throughout the state. Vermont’s forest products industry is imperative for job creation and sustainability, providing economic, environmental, and social benefits for rural communities that have limited economic opportunities. The Vermont Forest Products Program aims to help create and sustain thousands of jobs for Vermonters.
The Vermont Forest Products Program is supported by the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative, the High Meadows Fund, the Windham Foundation as well as the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the Northern Border Regional Commission.
Become a Funder
Are you interested in funding one of our programs or services? We are seeking funders to achieve our sustainable economic goals as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
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Become a Client
Are you interested in becoming a client to grow your business, industry sector, or replicate one of our approaches? We offer a suite of services for businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies.
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Become a Partner
Are you interested in partnering with us to build a thriving economic, social, and ecological future for Vermont? We invite collaboration from diverse stakeholders in all areas of our work.
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