One in every three forest workers in Tasmania lost their jobs between 2008 and 2010.
That’s the key finding of new research from the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Forestry, which quantifies for the first time the extent and impact of the recent downturn in the forest industry in Tasmania.
Tasmania’s Forest Industry 2010 outlines the factors contributing to the downturn, which sectors of the industry have been hardest hit by job losses, and which communities have been most profoundly affected.
“The impacts are being felt in all sectors of the industry, but are most keenly felt in those communities that are heavily reliant on forestry,” said report author, Dr Jacki Schirmer.
“For every job lost in the forest industry, it is likely that another one or two jobs are lost in the broader economy, as a result of reduced spending by forest industry businesses and workers.”
The research provides a clear picture of the state of the industry today, and helps us understand the likely impact of current changes in the industry on Tasmanian communities.
Dr Schirmer says there’s a window of opportunity now to use the research findings to help the industry, timber communities and governments plan for the future, including informing the ongoing negotiations about the future of the industry, and the design of assistance packages offered by government.
“Short-term assistance is needed by many businesses in the industry. But with the industry facing more change, multiple strategies are needed to ensure its long-term resilience. Now is the time to begin a full social impact assessment that builds on the information in this report, so we can better understand whether and how communities and businesses are adapting to changes experienced to date, as well as those to come.”
The report findings are based on information collected through the Forest Industry Survey. The survey was first conducted in 2006, with updates in 2008 and 2010. This year, responses were received by Tasmanian businesses estimated to employ 86 per cent of workers in the industry.
Public seminars will be held in Hobart, Burnie and Launceston today and tomorrow to present the findings.
(The report author, Dr Jacki Schirmer, will discuss key findings at a media conference in Hobart TODAY (10 November).
For more information, contact:
Samantha Meyer, Communications Manager, CRC for Forestry
03 6226 7944 or 0438 210 468 or [email protected]
Public seminar details
Hobart
Wednesday November 10 2010
3.30-5.00pm
Centenary Lecture Theatre
(Centenary Building)
Grosvenor Crescent
University of Tasmania
Sandy Bay
Burnie
Thursday November 11 2010
12.00-1.30pm
Room D201 (Building D)
Mooreville Road
University of Tasmania
Burnie
Launceston
Thursday November 11 2010
5.30-7.00pm
Lecture Theatre 9
(Faculty of Arts building)
Newnham Drive
University of Tasmania Newnham
