Development and Forecast of Employment in Forestry in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Employment in forestry is an essential component of the forestry industry. It is a socio-economic phenomenon, which has been at the edge of economists’ interest for quite a long time. The proportion of employees in the forestry sector is relatively small, standing at only 0.6%. However, forestry as a sector has a very significant multiplier effect which is reflected in the growth of related jobs. Examples of this can be found in the production of forestry machinery and equipment, the construction of wooden and timber structures, and the furniture sector. These sectors are kept separately in economic and statistical records, but forestry remains their natural determinant. The aim of this work is to describe, analyze, and formulate the prognosis for the development of these types of jobs. Conclusions of the work show that there has been a decrease in employment and simultaneously an increase in labor productivity. This is due to a increasingly high use of technological equipment. Development forecasts show that the Czech Republic does not differ from the overall surveyed trends in other selected countries. It is therefore evident that forecasts of the development of employment in forestry are also relevant in other similar countries. Our results show a statistically significant reduction in forestry employment. The analysis focused on the Czech Republic, but the results may also apply to other European countries. A significant decrease in employment leads to instability in the forestry sector. It means a skilled labor force leaves the forestry sector and is not replaced. Disruption of knowledge continuity leads to a negative impact on the environment.