The Role of Early Talent Strategies and Partnerships

Two workers with cut trees on the background

Published January 2, 2025

by Vanessa Connelly | FRA Communications & Marketing Manager

As we kick off the new year, it’s a great time to revisit one of the most critical challenges highlighted in 2024: recruiting the next generation of skilled workers to sustain and grow the forest industry workforce. FRA has published several articles in our Woods to Mill series addressing the workforce challenge (see resource section). Recently, a LinkedIn article authored by Casey Welch, Founder | CEO | Board member | Advisor | Impact Driven in the Early Career to Workforce Space, shared information from a survey of over 1,000 hiring professionals across various sectors, revealing that 73% believe an early talent strategy is essential to their recruiting goals. Yet, most businesses lack a practical approach to implementing one. An early talent strategy is critical in forestry, where sustainability and innovation are central to our mission, and the need to replace retiring workers or those transitioning to other occupations will create thousands of openings for forest and conservation roles over the next decade.¹

*Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/73-hiring-professionals-believe-early-talent-strategy-casey-welch-nvzhe/?trackingId=HuGrgLyqQDyfIKc41wf4%2BQ%3D%3D*

The Importance of Early Engagement

The forestry sector relies on a diverse workforce, from foresters and loggers to engineers, mill workers, and business administrators. Engaging middle school, high school, and college students helps build awareness of the industry’s opportunities while addressing misconceptions about forestry careers. Early engagement also cultivates interest in trade-focused roles, which are important to the wood supply chain.

The survey outlined several common tactics businesses use to connect with early talent, including career fairs (41%), increased pay (38%), internships (37%), and partnerships (34%). However, as the article points out, hurdles like limited venues, lack of resources, and students’ unfamiliarity with the industry often hinder efforts. These challenges are especially felt within forestry, where the workforce pipeline struggles with a shrinking talent pool and increasing competition for skilled labor.

Partnerships Are Key

While not the most frequently used tactic (34%), the article emphasizes that partnerships are uniquely positioned to address many barriers while amplifying recruitment efforts. By collaborating with student-facing organizations, such as Forestry Works, the Wisconsin Forestry Careers Coalition, and the Society of American Foresters, among others, forestry businesses can:

Solve the Venues Problem: Partnerships create opportunities to engage with students and educators directly, whether through school visits, virtual events, or community programs. These interactions provide invaluable exposure for students who might not otherwise consider a career in forestry.
Expand Resources Without Expanding Budgets: Partnering with organizations focused on workforce development allows businesses to tap into established networks and expertise without spending significant internal resources. This is particularly beneficial for smaller organizations or companies.
Navigate Legal and Logistical Challenges: Organizations that specialize in connecting businesses with students handle sensitive aspects, like managing data and ensuring compliance with regulations. This frees forestry employers to focus on creating compelling opportunities and messaging.
Raise Awareness and Inspire Interest: The forestry sector’s role in sustainability and innovation is a compelling story. Through partnerships, businesses can share this narrative with young people, highlighting pathways to fulfilling careers.

As we start 2025, cultivating early talent is clearly at the forefront of our minds. We can strengthen our workforce pipeline by investing in partnerships and strategies that enhance and complement the forestry products industry’s ongoing efforts to engage the next generation. Whether through supporting apprenticeship programs, hosting internships, or collaborating with workforce development organizations to spread the word, we have the tools to make it happen.