Metsä ja me - Research Project
Duration: 2023–2024
Authors: Jenni Simonen, Marjatta Selänniemi, Atte Penttilä, Eija Eronen, and Tuija Väyrynen
Funding: Metsämiesten säätiö
Metsä ja Me (The Forest and Us) research project examines the future of the forest sector from the perspective of employment and labour shortages. The research project provides information that will help the forest sector to address labour shortages and support the attractiveness and success of the sector.
The project consists of four parts that approach the challenges facing the forest sector from different perspectives:
Part 1: Focusing on the jobs in the forest sector - highlighting success!
The study explores how small and medium sized businesses in the forest sector have anticipated labour shortages, how good employer and employee relations are created and what good practices have been developed locally.
Part 2: Focus on workers who have moved to the forest sector from other fields of work
The study provides information on why people decide to move to the forest sector from other fields of work and what expectations they have. The study also explores how those who have entered the forest sector perceive it compared to their previous work and what advice they have for the forest sector.
Part 3: Examining industries competing with the forest sector for labour
The study will examine how other sectors have addressed labour shortages and what the forest sector can learn from the experiences and practices of other sectors.
Part 4: Examining the views of the Finnish National Agency for Education, employment administration, and secondary school study counsellors on the future of the forest sector and jobs in the sector
The study explores the views of the Finnish National Agency for Education, employment administration, and secondary school study counsellors on the future of the forest sector and jobs it offers.
Qualitative research data will be collected through interviews. The research will involve interviews with officers and workers of Finnish forest sector companies, professionals from the education and labour administration, and people who have moved into the forest sector from other fields of work. Data will also be collected from other sectors where efforts have been made to address the challenges of labour shortages and the attractiveness of the sector.
