Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

The Work

The work at any forest may include initial ground preparation, planting, maintenance of plantations, pruning, thinning, road-making, assessing and growing, stock, felling and extracting as well as the conservation and development of game and wildlife.  
 
Forestry Workers may specialise in cutting tree lengths, tractor driving and lorry driving to move wood stacks to transportation points.  
 
They are also responsible for protecting forests from misuse by the general public.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
• Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
• Gather, package, or deliver forest products to buyers.
• Sow or harvest cover crops, such as alfalfa.
• Spray or inject vegetation with insecticides to kill insects or to protect against disease or with herbicides to reduce competing vegetation.
• Maintain tallies of trees examined and counted during tree marking or measuring efforts.
• Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.
• Drag cut trees from cutting areas and load trees onto trucks.
• Sort tree seedlings, discarding substandard seedlings, according to standard charts or verbal instructions.
• Operate skidders, bulldosers, or other prime movers to pull a variety of scarification or site preparation equipment over areas to be regenerated.

Further Information

• Forest Worker - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Forest Worker - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

As a forestry worker you need relevant knowledge and skills and there are a limited number of courses available at different levels.

Key skills certs 

Manual handling 

Safepass 

Chainsaw & circular saw/ abrasive wheel tickets

Construction skills certification scheme

These courses may be available at low or no cost in FET centres nationwide. You can search for these key skills certs, just add the key word via Search our FET Coursefinder

Training & Development

FET PLC Courses: Forestry at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship:Arboriculture Apprenticeships at NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships 

If you want to work with the machinery, there is also an Agricultural Mechanic Apprenticeship available.

Higher Education CAO Entry: Forestry, Forestry - Agricultural Science NFQ Levels 7-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Professional Development

Society of Irish Foresters memberbership of this association is a good way of keeping up to date, developing contacts and accessing continuous professional development courses. 

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €46k

Salaries vary by employer, location, experience, and duties.

Data Source(s):
Payscale./ Erieri/ Salary expert/ Indeed

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth for elementary agriculture workers over the five-year period was marginally below the national average, although employment fell in 2022, returning to 2019 levels. Almost half of those employed in these occupations were working part-time and the share aged 55 years or older was above the national average. At 25%, the share who were non-Irish citizens was above the national average. The re-introduction of quotas for employment permits resulted in just over 1,000 new permits issued in 2022, primarily for horticultural operatives but also mushroom harvesters and dairy farm assistants.

There was a large number of vacancies advertised through the DSP for horticultural operatives and harvesters for the mushroom industry. There was also a relatively high share of jobseekers registered with DSP in December 2022 who had previously been employed in agricultural roles. Although there is no evidence of shortages, the apparent attractiveness of the job is resulting in recruitment issues. This occupation has been identified as being at high risk of automation, although this may depend on businesses having the resources to invest in new technology. Issues have also been identified with recruiting trained forestry workers; while the numbers involved are very small65, an increase in demand may arise in line with Ireland’s Forest Strategy (2023-2030).

• Teagasc - Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority

  • Head Office, Oak Park, Carlow
  • (059) 917 0200
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Coillte

  • The Irish Forestry Board, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow
  • Click Here

• COFORD

  • Research Division, Department Agriculture, Food & Marine, Kildare St., Dublin, 2
  • (01) 607 2487
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Association of Irish Forestry Consultants

  • Click Here

• Forest Industries Ireland

  • Click Here

• Society of Irish Foresters

  • Society of Irish Foresters, Glenealy, Co. Wicklow
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

  • Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
  • (01) 607 2000 Lo Call 1890 200 510
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here