Overview
he Forest Service as a viable alternative for those looking for meaningful work amidst economic skittishness
California needs forestry workers
As California’s wildfire seasons grow increasingly severe, a new statewide initiative is sounding the alarm. There aren’t enough workers needed to manage and protect the state’s vast forestlands.
At a media briefing hosted by American Community Media on March 31, 2026, forestry leaders and workforce advocates detailed the California Forestry Sector Jobs Initiative. This initiative is funded by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)-funded project aims to address a growing workforce gap by connecting diverse communities with high-paying, stable careers in the private forestry sector.
The initiative comes at a precarious time for both the environment and the economy. Recent college graduates are facing the most challenging labor market in a decade, characterized by tech layoffs and the rise of AI-driven automation. Meanwhile, California has seen 11 million acres—roughly 11% of the state—burn in the last ten years.
Workforce shortage
Matt Dias, President and CEO of the California Forestry Association (Calforests), emphasized that the private sector, which employs approximately 55,000 people, can no longer rely solely on its traditional rural hubs to fill its ranks.
“The workforce within the forest product sector has been aging and is aging quickly,” Dias warned. We have persistent staffing shortages that we are trying to get folks familiar with so that those opportunities can be sought by those that are interested.”
A primary goal of the initiative is to diversify a sector that has historically lacked representation from women, minorities, and urban residents. Dias was candid about the industry’s past failures in outreach.
“It’s not really that there’s no barrier on behalf of the folks that may have been interested,” Dias said. “I think the barrier lies in the fact that the sector hasn’t done a good job reaching out to these different populations at times and letting them understand that opportunities exist, and that’s the model that we’re trying to break right here.”
A pathway to good jobs
The program specifically targets underrepresented groups, including veterans and those in major urban centers, like the Bay Area and Los Angeles, offering them a path to what Dias called “solid-paying living-wage jobs.”
The crisis is no longer confined to the remote mountains of the north. With smoke frequently choking urban air sheds and wildfire risks encroaching on suburban neighborhoods, forestry has become a statewide concern.
“This is an all-hands-on-deck scenario right now because this is an issue that affects everybody in the state of California,” Dias stated. “It really takes a true partnership, and in the spirit of that, we are trying to reach out to bring new voices and to help us work as partners to battle the wildfire crisis that we’re facing.”
Career opportunities in the sector are broader than many realize, ranging from vocational trades like welding and heavy equipment operation to professional roles in GIS mapping, sales, and forest management.
The initiative’s job portal currently lists nearly 100 openings, with numbers expected to double soon. For those without prior experience, many companies offer internal training to help new hires climb the professional ladder.
A solution to the climate crisis
Sandy Close, who moderated the briefing, highlighted the unique timing of the initiative. “It’s rare we get to focus on opportunities in the job field, especially for recent college grads,” she noted, pointing to the Forest Service as a viable alternative for those looking for meaningful work amidst economic skittishness.”
Dias offered a word of encouragement for those wary of the physical risks associated with forest fires: “I don’t think that the [wildfires] are discouraging; I think it’s invigorating,” he said, noting that interest in forestry programs at universities like Cal Poly Humboldt and U.C. Berkeley has surged as the public seeks solutions to the climate crisis.
For more information on available positions and training, visit caforestryworkforce.com.
This article was written with support from the American Community Media Fellowship Program.
