Connecting with Future Foresters: How AFM is Driving Workforce Growth Through Outreach and Engagement

Over the last several years, American industries have seen different trends or phases pushing through the workforce. In 2020, COVID-19 forced many of us to work remotely, and as many as 28% of workers still do, according to a 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics study. In the latter half of 2021, job engagement was low, and employee resignations were high. The term “quiet quitting” emerged on social media in 2022, the idea that employees were emotionally disengaging from their work for a period before quitting. While some of these trends are applicable to vast swaths of the U.S. workforce, there are some others that are more specific to the field of forestry, namely a shortage of forestry professionals graduating with two- or four-year degrees. Necessary activities like timber cruising and forest inventory work can be rather challenging depending on the region, terrain, and climate. With this in mind, we have evaluated job requirements to diversify roles and workloads to increase job satisfaction. However, this is all part of a larger strategy to showcase the value of a career in natural resources management.

In 2021, AFM hired Noelle Morabito , Talent Acquisition and Retention Specialist. Since she joined the team, she has made an intentional effort to visit colleges and universities to boost AFM’s presence at career fairs. Foresters from local offices frequently join her and are available to discuss the scope of their work, the company culture, benefits, and more. The team sets up an attractive booth with giveaways, door prizes, and drawings to entice potential employees to visit with our representatives and learn more about the company. Additionally, Morabito is growing her list of contacts in forestry schools around the country, facilitating relationships with professors and landing speaking engagements for AFM managers and employees. Based on lower enrollment levels for natural resources management programs, it may be necessary to begin outreach even sooner. She shared, “One of my goals is to visit at least one high school a year and talk about forestry. Some young people might be encouraged to know that a career like this exists. It might change someone’s life and open their eyes to having a job outside working with trees!” Similarly, getting in front of future college alums gives us the opportunity to talk to students about a career in private forestry consulting. “Many college students are aware of government jobs and state forestry jobs,” Morabito said. “But there are a lot of other avenues a person can take, including exploring a career with a TIMO or private forestry consulting group. When you have a degree in natural resources or forestry, you can have a career in appraisal, biometrics, land real estate, resource planning, and more.” As a result of this outreach, students on college campuses seem more familiar with AFM than they used to, and this has led to an increase in students applying for an internship with us.

The internship program was restarted three years ago and accelerated in earnest two years ago. Internships are mutually beneficial for the employer and the intern. Brent Keefer , CEO, explains, “This creates a pipeline of future employees. It also helps interns learn what they will be doing on the job; it gives them an opportunity to learn in a hands-on environment that helps them determine if they’re interested in the job.” In return, this creates a greater likelihood of employee retention, as entry-level employees know before accepting a position the type of work it will entail and if it suits them. Several students have come back for a second internship and worked in another region (in some cases across the country) to learn about the nuances of forestry and land management elsewhere. Since 2019, 10 out of 29 interns (or 34%) have accepted full-time positions with AFM around the country. This ensures that a number of students have joined our workforce with the skills necessary to be successful from day one of employment. Morabito said, “Our students are exposed to as many different tasks over the summer to give them a great idea of what it’s like to be an AFM forester. The goal is to teach, but if we hire interns for full-time employment, they will hit the ground running because we taught them foundational skills to make them successful with us.”  

Furthermore, social media and an eye-catching, compelling careers website help draw students in. The world of social media allows us to communicate with forestry students about attendance at upcoming events and career fairs, and it illustrates what it’s like to work in forestry on a daily basis. It creates opportunities to share company culture with a clear demonstration of our values. Likewise, our recently revamped careers website showcases our benefits, employee testimonials, a clear description of the candidate journey, and an FAQ section, complete with questions young professionals always wonder about but feel some angst asking, including, “What should I wear to my interview?” and “What is my application status?” Clearly communicating with future employees lets them know what to expect from the process and that we respect their time and energy in what many perceive as an emotionally challenging process.

Through all of these improvements, there are still some opportunities ahead. While the caliber of students coming from various forestry programs remains high, their career paths and interests are diverging. Individuals pursuing careers in natural resource management may be searching for jobs in environmental management instead. However, future client objectives may reflect these priorities over time, and we are prepared to evolve with the industry and attract this talent to join us. Keefer said, “It’s a team effort. We’re partnering with local and regional teams, getting on college campuses, supporting different local events, and committing to outreach. While the overall supply hasn’t drastically changed, we’re doing a better job of accessing these recruits.”