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LABOUR: Forest industry unveils workforce strategy
        (AlbertaIndex, August 13, Wednesday) --- Alberta’s forest stakeholders and the provincial government have unveiled their strategy to address long-term labour challenges facing the sector.
        A Workforce Strategy for Alberta’s Forest Industry identifies ways to address staff recruitment, retention, skills development and training in the province’s third-largest manufacturing sector.

Sixteen forestry-related organisations participated in the strategy’s development. This collaboration resulted in 32 action items that, when achieved, will help ensure the industry continues to be a significant economic, environmental and social contributor in the province.

The Alberta Forest Products Association, the College of Alberta Professional Foresters, the College of Alberta Professional Forest Technologists, the Resource Industry Suppliers Association, Weyerhaeuser and the Woodland Operations Learning Foundation have indicated their support for the strategy.

The strategy includes the following actions:
•    Improve awareness and understanding of the forest industry and its opportunities for skilled labourers, students and those that provide career advice.
•    Encourage students to pursue employment opportunities in the industry.
•    Encourage more vocational training in high schools and post-secondary institutions to promote the development of skills for the forest workforce.
•    Support identification, development and application of new technologies and research opportunities.
•    Advocate for incentives to support the adoption of productivity-enhancing technology.
•    Support initiatives that upgrade the skills and knowledge of Alberta’s forest industry workers.
•    Develop a strategy to promote the forest industry to immigrants, Aboriginals, persons with disabilities, the semi-retired, students and women with children at home.

“Alberta’s forest industry has been a cornerstone of the provincial economy since the days of our first settlers,” said Hector Goudreau, Minister of Employment and Immigration. “If we want to sustain growth in this industry, it’s essential we explore new ways to develop and retain forest workers.  A Workforce Strategy for Alberta’s Forest Industry will help us along that path.”

The industry is currently facing a shortage of skilled labourers and tradespeople, an aging workforce and hard-to-recruit locations.

“Alberta’s forest products industry applauds the government for its commitment to forestry workers and the forest industry, especially in light of the prolonged economic depression in forest product markets throughout North America,” said Brady Whittaker, executive director of the Alberta Forest Products Association.

“Industry working together to achieve the strategy’s recommendations will go a long way to ensuring a sustainable and viable forest industry for years to come.”

“This strategy recognizes the unprecedented opportunities opening up for young people in the future,” said Dan MacPherson, executive director of the Resource Industry Suppliers Association.

“Yes, the industry has been in a deep downturn during the past five years, but downturns don’t last forever, and soon we will need a seatbelt to hang on. This strategy prepares us for that day.”


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