This BC First Nations Forestry Workforce Strategy (the “Workforce Strategy”) was developed as a long-term initiative to increase the participation and success of BC First Nations peoples in the BC forest sector training, careers, employment and self-employment – as forestry employees, managers and executive staff, and forestry contractors and self-employed entrepreneurs.

The Workforce Strategy’s goal is to double First Nations employment in the BC forest sector by 2027. In order to achieve this, the Workforce Strategy has a Call to Action of filling 2,200 forestry jobs by First Nations by 2027.

Extensive labour market research and assessments between 2011-2017 pointed to an imminent shortage of skilled forest sector workers mostly due to the aging workforce turnover and projected to occur over a 10-year horizon. The Workforce Strategy is the result of extensive research, labour market analysis and First Nations and stakeholder engagement throughout the province in 2017 and 2018. 

The BC 2027 Labour Market Outlook forecasted 10,901 new job openings in the provincial forest sector by 2027. The BC First Nations labour force represents approximately 5% of the total workforce. This Strategy’s goal is to double First Nations employment in the BC forest sector to 10% of total by 2027 In order to achieve this, the Strategy has a target of approximately 220 jobs per year over 10 years.

The Workforce Strategy is has been developed as a long-term initiative to increase the participation and success of BC First Nations peoples in the BC forest sector training, careers, employment and self-employment - as forestry employees, managers, and executive staff, and forestry contractors and self-employed entrepreneurs.

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