Job prospects Forest Firefighter in British Columbia

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This occupation includes job titles whose primary duties and responsibilities lead to positive environmental outcomes. Job Bank uses a list of occupations that were identified as "green" through a task-based analysis conducted by the United States’ Occupational Information Network (O*NET), which was recognized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and adapted to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) in Canada. This list may change over time. Learn more.

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "forest firefighter" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be very limited for Silviculture and forestry workers (NOC 84111) in British Columbia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
• Not many 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.

The industry continues to face a number of challenges that will continue to inhibit stable job growth, such as difficulty accessing economic fibre, US tariffs, and extreme weather.

Reforestation projects to mitigate wildfire damage have received provincial and federal funding.

This occupation includes forest firefighters. Increasing wildfires and the B.C. Government commitment to establishing a year-round force for the B.C. Wildfire service will further increase demand.

Here are some key facts about Silviculture and forestry workers in British Columbia:

• Approximately 1,650 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Silviculture and forestry workers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Forestry and logging (NAICS 113, 1153): 45%
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 21%
  • Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 9%
  • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 8%
  • Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 91% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 9% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 25% of silviculture and forestry workers work all year, while 75% 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 33 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 6% of silviculture and forestry workers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 80% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 20% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 14% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 44% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 10% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 16% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 16% 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