Forestry Sector Personnel Training: Performance Results in 2025

The personnel shortage remains a key challenge for the forestry industry, so in 2025, the government and business will focus on building a system for training specialists—from school to university and production.

EARLY CAREER GUIDANCE

Regions with a developed forestry industry continue to develop forestry classrooms and school forestry units. Business representatives participate in equipping them, conduct classes and excursions, and introduce schoolchildren to industry professions.

For example, 75 forestry classrooms are already operating in the Vologda Oblast, and their number is planned to increase to 86 by 2030. More than 815 teenagers are studying in 44 school forestry units in the region. In 2025, with the support of the largest forest user in the Vologda Oblast, the VLP Group of Companies, six more forestry classrooms will open. Today, over 350 schoolchildren are enrolled in them.

SECONDARY VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

The past year has been important for the development of secondary vocational schools. In the Altai Territory, a forestry science cluster was created at the Pavlovsky Agrarian College as part of the "Professionalism" program. 120 million rubles were allocated to equip workshops and classrooms. New programs have been opened: woodworking on CNC machines and drone control. Since September 1, 725 students have begun training in the industry cluster.

Starting in 2026, a new educational and production cluster specializing in the forestry industry will begin operating at the Koryazhma Industrial College. It was created as part of the federal "Professionalism" project. With the support of a 100 million ruble grant from the Russian Ministry of Education.

CONNECTION BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND INDUSTRY

Forest industry companies are strengthening their cooperation with specialized universities. Shelon Forest Industry Complex and Voronezh Forest Engineering University have agreed on joint training: students will undergo training and practical training directly at the company's facilities.

Targeted specialist training programs are also being implemented in the regions: for Primorsky Krai, training is being provided by the Belarusian State Technological University, and an agreement on targeted training has also been signed with VSTU.

NEW SUPPORT MEASURES

At the end of the year, the Russian Government announced changes to the system for training personnel for the agro-industrial complex and forestry industries. Starting in 2026, specialized colleges will be able to receive grants for building renovations and the purchase of educational software and materials under the Agroprofi program. The state will cover up to 90% of the costs, with employers providing the rest.

About 1 billion rubles are allocated for the program in 2026, and about 5 billion over three years.