Deliberations of Forestry Workers on Current Challenges and Future Perspectives on Their Profession—A Case Study from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Professionally trained, motivated, and responsible forestry workers are a fundamental prerequisite of successful forest production and an integral part of the modern, generally accepted paradigm of sustainable forest management. However, the forestry sector today is increasingly facing the problem of a shortage of forestry workers and the challenge of obtaining a qualified and sustainable workforce. This paper, therefore, presents the reflections of forestry workers on the challenges and future perspectives on their profession and forest work. The findings of the examination of forestry workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina include some general characteristics of forest work and indicators of the state and position of forestry workers (socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes toward work, profession, etc.). Specially addressed are some problems and challenges faced by the forestry sector in obtaining and recruiting the necessary workforce—the severity of the forestry worker shortage, the main causes and reasons for the lack of workers, factors for stronger recruitment and retention of workers, work commitment, sustainability of the workforce, future perspectives on forestry work, etc. The differences between workers employed in public and private forestry companies were examined. The survey included 268 respondents and was carried out in the second half of 2021. The purpose of the work was in sensibilizing the profession and the public to the issues of the workforce in forestry, its position, and reflections, and in providing the basis that can be an important contribution toward improving the condition and sustainability of the forestry workforce.