BARRIE, ONT. – Forests Ontario and the Ontario Forest Industries Association, with support from an advisory committee, have collaborated on an Employment Ontario research project entitled Bridging the Gap Between Ontario’s Youth and the Provincial Forest Sector.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the forestry sector is experiencing a labour force and skill shortage that is preventing the sector from realizing its full economic potential. If left unchecked, it could negatively impact the socio-economic standing of hundreds of communities across the province, indicates a release.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario, the objectives of the research project are twofold: to generate a detailed understanding of job vacancies and the associated training and educational requirements needed to fill these openings and to provide critical insight into the perceptions of youth and Indigenous youth, teachers and parents with respect to the forestry sector.
According to Bridging the Gap research, to effectively compete with other industries and attract and retain a workforce that can sustain continuous growth, the forestry sector will need to build better awareness and engagement with youth, so they consider forestry as a viable, enticing option when choosing their career paths, adds the release.
For more on the research project click here.
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