Home Industry Information Gardening, Farming, Animals & Environment Forest and Wood Products

Print

Forest and Wood Products

The Forest and Wood Products industry includes forest growing and management activities for timber production, the manufacturing of a diverse range of traditional and non‐traditional wood‐based products, and the distribution channels to deliver and sell these products. Distribution is achieved either through retail and trade merchants or, wholesalers, manufacturers, importers and exporters.

What does this industry cover?

Businesses in the Forest and Wood Products industry have been investing heavily in new technology, to increase production, safety, robotics, and state of the art machinery. Other technologies include drones, sensors, laser scanners, tree breeding and big data to better understand forests and wood products.

The Government is planning to increase the size of plantations by a billion trees to address not only climate change but to meet the domestic and global demand for wood and fibre.

By replacing concrete and steel with engineered wood products in midrise buildings will have substantial environmental benefits due to less carbon intensive construction methods.

Job hunting preparation

The two available apprenticeships in this industry are through completion of Certificate III Saw Technician or Certificate III in Woodmachining.

The Forest and Wood Products industry is a significant employer in regional and remote areas and the Federal Government has announced nine Regional Forestry Hubs to stimulate growth for new plantation prospects and encourage a local workforce.

The priority skills required in this sector are: information and communication technology skills, middle management skills, high level financial skills and specialised skills.

Employment and wage data for this industry

Apprenticeships Employment Size

This is a small industry for Australian Apprenticeship commencements. In the year to September 2019, commencements were: 197

Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 14/04/2020. AATIS analysis.

Commencements Change

Commencements in the year to September 2019 in this industry have decreased, compared with the previous year.

Source: VOCSTATS, extracted on 14/04/2020. AATIS analysis.

Apprentice Employment Outcomes

For Australian Apprentice graduates from this industry, employment outcomes are high.

Source: NCVER National Student Outcomes Survey, 2017, unpublished. AATIS analysis.

Industry Employment Size

This is a large sized industry compared with other Australian industries.

Source: Department of Education, Skills and Employment, 2019. AATIS analysis.

Industry Employment Change

Over the past 5 years, change in employment in this industry has remained stable.

Source: Department of Education, Skills and Employment, 2019. AATIS analysis.

Industry Wage

The average wage of all employees in this industry is low to medium.

Source: Department of Education, Skills and Employment, 2019. AATIS analysis.

Ready to see where Forest and Wood Products can take you?

Career Pathways

The Forest and Wood Products Industry has career pathways from Certificate II through to Diploma. Look at the Job Pathways Chart to see what is of interest.

Job Pathway Charts

MyGain - YouTube Channel

MyGain

Watch Sean - Trainee Forestry Officer

Support Services

Apprenticeship Network Provider Finder

Apprenticeship Network providers can give information about starting an apprenticeship or traineeship, eligibility questions, and they also handle the paperwork and ongoing administration of apprentices and trainees.

Group Training Organisations Finder

Group Training Organisations employ apprentices and trainees and then host them out to employers. These organisations can provide great information about starting a career through Australian Apprenticeships.

Work Type Explorer

Search for Job and Training Descriptions by selecting from seven work type descriptions. For more details, take yourself through the Career Interest Explorer.

Further Research

Information

Industry information is published by peak level associations, government and major employers. Accessing industry association sites, including member lists, is a good way of building up an understanding of an industry. Visiting employer websites and looking for careers or employment menus helps identify how employers recruit and the skills they are recruiting.

Use Google to search for the associations and organisations listed below.

Industry

Skills Impact
Australian Forest Products Association
Timber Communities Australia
Timber NSW
Timber Queensland Ltd QLD
Forest Industries Association of Tasmania
Victorian Association of Forest Industries
Forest Industries Federation WA

Forest Growing and Management

Australian Forest Growers

Harvesting and Haulage

Australian Forest Contractors Association
Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association

Sawmilling and Processing

Timber Preservers Association of Australia
Tasmanian Sawmillers Association

Timber Manufactured Products

Frame & Truss Manufacturers Association of Australia
Glued Laminated Timber Association of Australia
Wood Panel and Board Production
Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia
Timber Veneer Association of Australia

Timber Merchandising

Timber & Building Materials Association
Timber Merchants Association

Government

Department of Agriculture and Water Resouces (Australian government)
Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries QLD
Agriculture Victoria
Primary Industries and Regions SA
Department of Primary Industries NSW
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment TAS

Forest and Wood Products

What does this industry cover?

Job hunting preparation

Employment and wage data for this industry

Apprenticeships Employment Size

Commencements Change

Apprentice Employment Outcomes

Industry Employment Size

Industry Employment Change

Industry Wage

Ready to see where Forest and Wood Products can take you?

Career Pathways

MyGain - YouTube Channel

Watch Sean - Trainee Forestry Officer

Support Services

Apprenticeship Network Provider Finder

Group Training Organisations Finder

Work Type Explorer

Further Research

Information

Government

Careers Sites