Key trends in forestry industry: development of specialized training

The final, tenth, point in our list key trends that have influenced the forestry industry over the last decade and will continue to shape it in the coming years - the development of specialized training. Education has always been the cornerstone for the development of any industry, and the forestry industry is no exception.

• In 2023, within the framework of the federal educational project “Professionality”, educational and production clusters were opened in different parts of Russia, in which new educational programs are being introduced, including in the field of the forestry complex:

Arkhangelsk region. The industrial technical school in Novodvinsk has been chosen as the central site for the educational cluster of timber industry complex called “ProfiProm”. The center's partners are 12 technical schools in the region and large timber processing enterprises in the region.

Republic of Buryatia. The Buryat Polytechnic College together with the Selenga Pulp and Cardboard Mill is organizing the Baikal educational cluster of accelerated learning. 147 million rubles were invested in the project, 100 million of which were received as part of grant support.

Komi Republic. The educational and production center “Forest Industry Complex” will be opened at the Syktyvkar Forestry College (SLT). The project included the following areas of training: car repair and maintenance technician, electrician, mechanic, machinist.

• Turnkey colleges are focused on the industry training model to meet the needs of industry labor markets and specific enterprises. For this purpose, educational institutions and timber industry enterprises sign partnership agreements.

• In 2024, training of specialists for the forestry industry and mechanical engineering continues in the Arkhangelsk region. The educational process will be conducted on the basis of two educational institutions at once - technical schools in Severodvinsk and Koryazhma.

Andrey Goncharov, first vice-president of the Russian Timber Association: “The timber industry, like many sectors of the economy, is experiencing a shortage of personnel. According to expert data, our field lacks over 34,000 specialists. The key issue in attracting personnel remains wage growth. In 2023, salaries in the forestry industry, according to HeadHunter, increased by 13,000 rubles, and the market salary range in the country amounted to 55–114.9 thousand rubles. The second most important issue is the joint work of educational organizations and business in matters of personnel training, and a lot has been done in this direction over the past few years, but much more needs to be done.”.