Pathways for recruitment & diversity in the Welsh Forest Industries
Forestry and timber industries face a critical skills crisis. This report explores bold, collaborative action to regenerate careers, communities, and climate resilience across Wales
This Home-Grown Homes project report was written by James Moxey for forestry, housing, policy, skills and education sector professionals and originally published in May 2025,
Overview
Wales cannot meet its climate commitments without forestry and timber. These sectors capture carbon, provide sustainable materials for homes, and support our rural economy—but they face a deepening skills and recruitment crisis. This new report explores the causes, implications and potential solutions to ensure that forestry and advanced timber manufacturing can thrive and grow.
From forest floor to factory floor, we need a new generation of skilled, motivated workers.
The report highlights the urgent need for collective action to build awareness, improve access to learning, and create meaningful, values-aligned career pathways across forestry and timber construction. Through extensive stakeholder consultation, it presents a set of clear, actionable recommendations focused on four priority areas: awareness, interest, access and workforce development.
Key findings
- Crisis in capacity: Up to a 72% increase in workers is needed in forestry to meet decarbonisation targets.
- Perception gap: Young people rarely see forestry or timber manufacturing as climate careers, despite their crucial role in the net-zero transition.
- Education challenges: FE and HE pathways are fragile and underfunded. New entrants face barriers to access, from course availability to transport costs.
- Urgent action needed: Two cross-sector working groups—one for Forestry, one for Advanced Timber Manufacturing—are recommended to drive progress.
Priority actions
For Forestry:
- Launch a national Forestry Skills & Recruitment Working Group.
- Develop a national online education and training network for forestry.
- Co-create digital, in-person and forest-based awareness campaigns with young people.
- Introduce diverse, accredited pathways including apprenticeships and career-change support.
- Promote the role of forestry in climate and nature action, not just land management.
For Advanced Timber Manufacturing:
- Establish an ATM Skills & Recruitment Working Group with manufacturers, educators and clients.
- Align career offers with young people’s values around creativity, sustainability and innovation.
- Expand technical content and short courses linked to net-zero housing delivery.
- Promote ATM as a modern, meaningful route into construction and regenerative placemaking.
Why this matters
This report represents the most comprehensive review to date of the skills and recruitment challenges facing Wales’ forest industries. It underpins our ability to deliver low-carbon homes, reverse biodiversity loss, and generate long-term rural employment. It also reflects the lived experience of industry stakeholders—contractors, educators, policy leads, and young people—in shaping a more regenerative future.
“The industry needs to realign its values, retrain its workforce, and rebuild its narrative—from extraction to regeneration.”
— Forest Industries Skills and Recruitment Report, 2025
Who should read this?
This report is essential reading for:
- Forestry and timber professionals seeking to grow the workforce
- Educators, careers advisers and training providers in Wales
- Policymakers working on climate, housing or rural development
- Construction clients and housing associations building net-zero homes
- Anyone committed to a regenerative, just transition for Wales
Credits
This report was produced as part of the Welsh Government-funded Home-Grown Homes 2 Project, coordinated by Woodknowledge Wales in partnership with leading stakeholders across education, forestry, housing and skills.
