Forest Workforce Training Insititute

The Forest Workforce Training Institute (FWTI) was formed in 2018 to implement and expand a comprehensive workforce development initiative (the Initiative) developed by the Alabama Forestry Association (AFA) in 2015. Now a regional effort including affiliate states throughout the southeast, the goal of the program is to create a pipeline of qualified workers to the forest industry. The program is built on three core principles: The challenges companies are experiencing finding qualified worker is not going away therefore the program must have a long-term focus. The forest industry must invest more resources to recruit and retain qualified workers in the face of growing competition with other industry sectors for a shrinking pool of workers. As the largest employer in many rural communities, the forest industry must effectively educate rural kids about the stable, well-paying jobs the industry provides close to home.