Job prospects Seasonal Swamper - Logging Forestry in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "seasonal swamper - logging forestry" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be limited for Logging and forestry labourers (NOC 85120) in British Columbia for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• Employment in forestry related professions has been declining year-over-year, with significant fluctuations month-to-month. A number of curtailments at wood manufacturing facilities has lowered demand for these occupations. The industry continues to face a number of challenges that will continue to inhibit stable job growth.

Here are some key facts about Logging and forestry labourers in British Columbia:

• Approximately 1,600 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Logging and forestry labourers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Forestry and logging (NAICS 113, 1153): 85%
  • Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 81% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 19% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 24% of logging and forestry labourers work all year, while 76% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 31 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of logging and forestry labourers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 68% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 32% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 16% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 53% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 7% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 8% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 14% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology