Forestry industry struggling to find Kiwi workers - company offers bonus for reliable staff
9 Apr, 2021 08:00 PM
6 minutes to read
The silviculture industry is struggling to find reliable workers to do jobs like Juanito Jr Miculob s. Photo / Andrew Warner
The silviculture industry is struggling to find reliable workers to do jobs like Juanito Jr Miculob s. Photo / Andrew Warner
A contractor is offering a yearly bonus of about $3640 if workers turn up for work and stay drug-free as the silviculture industry struggles to recruit and retain good staff. Training programmes have been introduced but Kiwis are reluctant to take on the physically demanding jobs, experts say, and there is still a reliance on migrants.
Source: Ministry for Primary Industries
The forestry sector continues to provide career opportunities for New Zealanders, with Te Uru Rākau delivering $1.5 million into training and employment projects to help the sector meet labour and skills gaps.
Acting deputy director general Henry Weston says the Forestry and Wood Processing Workforce Action Plan, developed in partnership with the sector, identified up to 5,000 more forestry and wood processing workers would be required by 2025.
“The food and fibre sectors are a key driver for the New Zealand economy and it’s a priority for the Ministry of Primary Industries to invest in projects that attract people to the sector.