Even before the current global health situation disrupted many work environments, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Data reported that the mining and logging, wholesale and retail trade and manufacturing industry sectors were among the ones with the greatest labor shortages, with more open jobs than people seeking work.
Unfortunately, the forest products industry continues to face perceptions that it is antiquated, environmentally unfriendly and lacking in diversity. It is rare that young professionals enter into it without prior knowledge of the industry through their schooling, family or colleague connections. To ensure today’s employers are able to secure the right talent to advance their firms, a new approach must be employed.
In a national survey last summer of college students commissioned by NAWLA, we sought to better understand the reasons behind these misconceptions so that the association and its members could collaborate to more effectively overcome them.
This survey asked – both at the start and the end – if the participants would be interested in a career in the woods products industry. During the survey, those same respondents were shown a series of statements about the breadth of lucrative and fulfilling careers, and the opportunities to develop life-long relationships with diverse and passionate practitioners. With some brief introductory information, we were able to increase those indicating “yes” to interest in a career in the wood products industry from 9% at the start of the survey to 21% at the end of it. After completing the survey, another 70% indicated “maybe” to the same question.
This promising data leads us to believe that, with a concerted educational outreach effort employing a number of tactics to reach job seekers or those soon entering the labor market, we could easily improve perception and drive students to investigate career opportunities in the forest products industry.
This spring, NAWLA launched a website (careersinlumber.com) and marketing campaign – Many branches. One industry. – to educate and inspire young job seekers to include the lumber industry in their career search. This campaign includes advertising and educational content on new digital platforms, collaboration with educators and employers and career fair participation.
The most valuable asset of this website and campaign is the job board, where all of the available jobs in our diverse industry are listed for potential applicants. Our goal is to include job listings that many young job seekers may not consider as part of the wood products industry, including jobs in accounting, engineering, chemistry, IT, architecture, material design, furnishings, aviation, automotive and other novel job types. The website also features educational videos, “how I got here” stories from NAWLA members about their path to a lumber industry job and other related articles showcasing technology and innovation within the industry.
Sharing your current job opportunities on careersinlumber.com benefits your company by increasing exposure to qualified candidates, while helping to support efforts to do so across our industry. We’ll be featuring some of the more unexpected jobs to gain additional attention across the Many branches. One industry. social media platforms.
For the remainder of 2020, NAWLA members will receive an unlimited number of basic postings on the job board, and non-members can post for a nominal fee. With those job posts, you are encouraged to add to each listing that your post is NAWLA approved. You can also help ensure the success of this campaign by following Many branches. One industry. on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, and encouraging others to do the same.
At NAWLA, we know and have long asserted that ours is an industry that offers a diverse pool of lucrative and rewarding careers, the opportunity to leverage technological advances and countless chances to establish a network that supports you your entire career. We are confident that those who hear that message through the Many branches. One industry. campaign will open their mind to the possibilities that await them at one of our industry firms.
To learn more about the Many branches. One industry. campaign or post a job, visit careersinlumber.com.
