Finnish teen excels in timber handling after vocational training

Emma Juttula, 18, has already mastered unloading massive timber loads like a seasoned professional—despite it being her first time operating the crane alone, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Working at a sawmill in Taivalkoski, northern Finland, Juttula efficiently transferred log bundles weighing nearly 40,000 kilograms from a trailer to the sorting table in just over half an hour. “It was good work,” she said afterward.

A native of Pudasjärvi, Juttula recently completed her vocational qualification as a forest machine operator, specializing in harvester driving. She trained at OSAO, a regional vocational education consortium, and now plans to continue her studies to qualify as a timber truck driver—a process expected to take another two years.

“After that, I’ll be able to handle both forest machines and timber combinations,” she said.

Juttula chose vocational school for its hands-on approach, citing her love of nature and her upbringing on a farm, where she learned early to operate machinery alongside her father. “I learn by doing, so there’s no better place than vocational school,” she said. “Finland has forests, and we need to take care of them.”

The field demands self-reliance, she noted. “You have to be confident, proactive, and able to work alone.” She dismissed criticism that vocational programs lack rigor, insisting success depends on personal effort. “It’s up to you what you make of it.”

With women still underrepresented in forestry, Juttula encourages others to consider the sector. “If you have the will and determination, you’ll manage,” she said. “We can handle this work.”

After completing her second qualification, she plans to work in the industry for at least two years before possibly pursuing higher education or starting her own business. One thing is certain: she won’t leave her rural roots. “Growing up surrounded by nature, it feels like a second home.”

Vocational schools in Finland hold graduation ceremonies individually, with OSAO’s Taivalkoski campus celebrating its graduates on June 5. Yle will publish the names of newly qualified professionals online next month.