Norwegian teens flock to forest jobs as interest in timber industry grows
In Bangdalen, Namsos municipality, four teenagers are working hard with their clearing saws. They are clearing deciduous forest, an important task to ensure the spruce trees in the area grow large and strong.
“I’ve never done this kind of work before, but I really enjoy it. We are doing an important job and it’s a good workout,” says Joakim Husby.
18-year-old Solve Leksås agrees, saying, “Even though the weather can be changeable, the job is fantastic. We have worked quickly and cleared large areas already. I like working outside all day, and you really feel like you have put in a day’s work when you get home. It’s a good feeling.”
Norway is becoming more forested, and Norwegian timber products are increasingly in demand. The green shift is making our forests more attractive. As a result, more labor is needed, and the Forestry Company is stepping in to help.
“The interest in working in the forest this summer has been record-breaking. In Trøndelag alone, we had 165 applicants for 23 positions. That’s 60 more than last year,” says project manager Erlend Grande at the Forestry Company.
Over the past few years, the Forestry Company has been actively working to recruit young Norwegians for forestry work. Through the JOB:U project, they are trying to spark interest in this type of work.
This year, a total of 370 young people applied for 136 summer jobs in the forest. “Caring for young forests is the main activity this summer. The young people learn to do it safely, and they also gain insight into job and education opportunities in forestry,” explains Grande.
The experience from last year and previous years shows that 75% of young people consider both a job and education in forestry after spending summer weeks in the forest. 64 young people are already in the process of educating themselves in the field, according to the Forestry Company.
“In Trøndelag, we now have 23 young people working in forestry in Nærøysund, Namsos, Steinkjer, Indre Fosen, Verdal and Stjørdal. The response among young people has exceeded all expectations, and their work effort is high,” says Grande.
Statskog, Norway’s largest forest owner, is actively involved in the recruitment project. “As we phase out oil in the green shift, the demand for wood fiber will increase significantly. Forestry will likely grow as an industry, and we will need more labor,” says advisor Andreas Vannebo from Statskog.
In recent years, particularly Eastern European labor has contributed to forestry, but this is changing. “It is no longer as attractive to work in Norway. Therefore, I am pleased that, for example, Nord University is starting a bachelor’s degree in forestry in Steinkjer next year. It’s been many years since we had such an offer here in Trøndelag,” says Vannebo.
Back in the deciduous forest in Bangdalen, the sound of clearing saws cuts through the fine summer day in the forest. The young people are felling small trees for several hours every day.
“So is it a myth that today’s youth are lazy?”
“Yes, I believe so, after the enormous response we have had the past two years,” says Erlend Grande from the Forestry Company.