WORKING IN FORESTRY COULD BE
YOUR DREAM JOB
New Zealand's forestry industry is growing. It is entering a particularly exciting period with many farm forests maturing and needing to be harvested.
We are also planting more and more trees, with even more to come under the Government's One Billion Trees programme, aimed at lifting production and becoming a feature in New Zealand's response to climate change.
In the 2017/18 year, 49,000 hectares of trees were planted - 1000 hectares more than the previous year's planting.
Also 10% more timber was harvested. Both planting and harvesting levels will rise even further.
Often there is the opportunity to work with world leading technologies, many developed here in New Zealand.
A FORESTRY JOB MEANS JOB SECURITY
More than 20,000 people are directly employed in New Zealand's forestry industry.
There are many different forestry jobs, and some aren't even in the forests. Whatever job you choose, it's likely to be as secure as any of the jobs in farming or the like, because the forest industry is guaranteed to increase.
A NZIER report into forestry's contribution shows:
approximately 2000 employees/contractors work in the forestry road transport sector
approximately 600 science-related jobs are focused on forestry
approximately 900 employees are involved in the transport support services sector (which includes port service workers, such as stevedores, marshallers, fumigation services etc).
Forestry offers opportunities to all people. There are few limits on who can or cannot work in the forestry industry.
YOU CAN GET TRAINED, AND EARN GOOD MONEY, ALMOST EVERYWHERE
You can get a job in forestry in just about any region around New Zealand, working better hours and earning better wages than in pretty much any other primary industry.
Our people are well trained, both before starting work and with on-the-job training while working and earning.
Find out more about forestry training.
MANY FORESTRY WORKERS COME FROM OTHER SECTORS
More than half of all new forestry workers have worked before in other sectors, including other areas of the primary industry.
It's never too late to switch your career to forestry.
FORESTRY BRINGS JOB SATISFACTION
Working in forestry is satisfying. You are protecting the environment, both by directly caring for nature and by maintaining New Zealand's carbon sinks.
You are also contributing to the economy, as in the 2017/18 year forestry contributed $7.68 billion to New Zealand's gross domestic product (GDP).
It's personally rewarding as you can easily see your progress during your day's work, and you are working with a crew of like-minded people who often become like a family.
YOU CAN GROW YOUR CAREER
There are many opportunities to climb up the forestry ladder, and you are encouraged to upskill and take on more responsibility – which means more money.
FORESTRY'S FUTURE IS EXCITING
Advances in technology means forestry is one of the fastest progressing primary industries.
Increased mechanisation and robotic technology is increasing production - and safety – in forestry, while making it an exciting sector to work in.