Forestry professionals

British Columbia

The employment outlook will be Limited for forestry professionals (NOC 21111) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Employment in forestry-related professions has been declining year-over-year, and the industry faces several curtailments at wood manufacturing facilities.  Stable job growth continues to be inhibited by difficulty accessing economic fibre, falling annual harvests, high U.S. duties and tariffs, and the impacts of extreme weather and wildfires, though the industry remains particularly important to rural and Indigenous communities.  Provincial and federal funding for reforestation projects as well as support for wood manufacturing and mass timber may provide some employment opportunities.Here are some key facts about forestry professionals in British Columbia: Approximately 1,650 people work in this occupation. Forestry professionals mainly work in the following sectors: Forestry and logging (NAICS 113, 1153): 42%Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 13%Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 13%Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 13%Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 8% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 92% compared to 78% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 8% compared to 22% for all occupations74% of forestry professionals work all year, while 26% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.23% of forestry professionals are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 78% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: 22% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 28% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 14% compared to 17% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 60% compared to 22% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 19% compared to 12% for all occupations

Quebec

The employment outlook will be Limited for forestry professionals (NOC 21111) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Here are some key facts about forestry professionals in Quebec: Approximately 1,400 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Forestry professionals mainly work in the following sectors: Forestry and logging (NAICS 113, 1153): 38%Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 24%Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 9%Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 8% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 91% compared to 82% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 9% compared to 18% for all occupations72% of forestry professionals work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.19% of forestry professionals are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 84% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: 16% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 5% compared to 19% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 11% compared to 22% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 56% compared to 17% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 22% compared to 11% for all occupations

Ontario

The employment outlook will be Limited for forestry professionals (NOC 21111) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.What Types of Employers Are Out There?Support activities for forestryPublic administration, mostly at the municipal levelElectric power generation, transmission and distributionWhat are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?Ongoing tariffs and other challenges in the forestry sector are expected to negatively affect job prospectsPublic-sector investments in forestry should support the industry over the longer termWhat Skills Do I Need to Succeed?To work in professional forestry, individuals must be a Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F) and obtain full membership status with the regulatory body, the Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA)Limited work may be performed as an Associate member of the OPFAWhat Other Information Will I Find Helpful?Economic activity in the forestry sector is concentrated in northern Ontario.Here are some key facts about forestry professionals in Ontario: Approximately 650 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Forestry professionals mainly work in the following sectors: Forestry and logging and fishing, hunting and trapping (NAICS 113, 114, 1153): 33%Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 19%Utilities (NAICS 22): 12%Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 11% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 91% compared to 81% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 9% compared to 19% for all occupations76% of forestry professionals work all year, while 24% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.27% of forestry professionals are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 81% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: 19% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 6% compared to 25% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 8% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 20% compared to 22% for all occupations bachelor's degree: 48% compared to 24% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 20% compared to 13% for all occupations