Client: FITEC

Date: July 2008

Authors:  Kel Sanderson, Fiona Stokes

FITEC is the Industry Training Organisation (ITO) for the forest industries. In 2008, BERL surveyed the forest industry on behalf of FITEC to ascertain the training requirements of the industry to 2011.

A strong response to the BERL FITEC Survey was received, with 50 to 60 percent of the industry responding. The key findings of the survey were that 37 percent of all firms covering all sectors and regions said they were likely to expand in the next five years. And an additional 600 to 1,000 people will be needed in the industry each year due this growth.

A strong training culture already exists in the forest industry and there is the potential to do more to 2011. Applied technical skills and soft skills like people and leadership skills were considered the most important skills needed to support a business in the industry, with basic competencies like numeracy and literacy remaining important.

BERL # 4602