What are the current issues affecting this sector?
What changes are anticipated over the next 5 years
Do you have any statistics relevant to the sector?
Are there any areas in your sector currently experiencing skills shortages?
Please give an overview of your sector?
Forests and its related activity makes a significant contribution to the Irish economy. As well as the direct economic contribution the forestry sector also contributes to sustainable rural and social development. As an economic activity, forestry has come of age within the last decade and is now a significant generator of downstream value added activity especially in the timber processing sector. The total value of forestry and related activity to the Irish economy is estimated to amount to €1.6 billion each year.
Among the key benefits to accrue from the Irish forestry sector are:
Provision and sustaining of jobs in rural areas
Growing of a renewable resource that is environmentally beneficial
Creation of a carbon sink that will combat climate change
Availability of significant amenity and leisure resources.
What is the size and scope of the sector?
The forest and timber processing sectors include a broad range of activities often described as 'from seed to sawdust'. The employment spectrum ranges from nursery plant production, forest establishment, harvesting and logistics to saw-milling and the manufacturing of panel boards.
Directly and indirectly some 16,000 jobs are dependent on these sectors.
What are the current issues affecting this sector?
Like many other sectors the forestry and timber processing industry is susceptible to the prevailing economic conditions. However, the 3 million cubic metres of timber produced by Irish forests will continue to sustain the processing sector. Timber is both a natural and renewable resource that will have a greater importance into the future.
There is significant potential for our wood fuel to replace fossil fuel, particularly in the generation of heat and electricity and consequently reducing our dependency on oil and gas for energy needs. A significant long term issue going forward will be government policy in relation to forestry, particularly in relation to national planting targets.
What changes are anticipated over the next 5 years
Although there may be periodic downturns, the forestry and timber processing sector will continue to play a significant role in the Irish economy. The availability of timber from our forests will continue underpin a sustainable industry. Further 'spin-off' value added opportunities will be created in areas such as wind energy, biomass and other green energy related projects. Irish forests will also continue to have an increased importance and impact on leisure, tourism and recreation activities particularly in rural communities.
Do you have any statistics relevant to the sector?
Some general points of information in relation to this sector are:-
Within the forestry sector there is a broad spectrum of job roles similar to those you might find in any other sectors. At a professional level these would including Accountants, IT Specialists, Human Resource Specialists, Business Analysts, Engineers and Sales and Marketing jobs.
Professional foresters typically make up a significant number of jobs in the forestry sector and there is an increasing demand for specialist disciplines including Environmentalists, Archaeologists, Researchers and Engineers.
The Coillte Group is one of the largest employers in the sector with approximately 1100 staff
Professional foresters within the industry are typically educated to degree level.
A considerable amount of work especially in Operational Forestry is completed by independent contractors.
Many qualified foresters and aligned specialists can work as consultants within the sector.
Are there any areas in your sector currently experiencing skills shortages?
There will always be ongoing skills requirements in many parts in this sector. For example over the next couple of years the Coille Group will recruit both forestry and business graduates to meet its ongoing staffing and business development needs.
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Questions about the sector
Questions about the career opportunities
Questions about education and training
Questions about global opportunities
Advice for people interested in this area
Engineer - Chemical
James Ryan "The thing I like most about the graduate programme is the amount of variety you experience on a day to day basis"
Professional Forester
Paulina Pawlukojc "This job is for someone who is an outdoor person, who loves nature, enjoys walking and doesn't mind the weather"
Harvesting Forester
Mark O Loughlin "I always took part in outdoor activities in school and during my College years I gained a greater insight into the sector by doing part time Forestry work"
Business Analyst
Fintan O'Brien "I prepare management accounts for different sections of the company and I am also involved in writing business and strategic plans"
