Swedish Forest Machine Operator Program attracts more women than men

Nine out of thirteen. That’s the ratio in the forest machine operator program at Liljaskolan in Sweden, where we meet Alva-Li, Ida, and their teacher Hanna out in the forest. The fact that the majority of the class are girls stands out in a traditionally male-dominated profession.

“But we didn’t choose this forest machine operator program to prove a point. We’re here because we want to be here,” says Alva-Li. “And because it’s a fun job.”

The forestry industry has always been male-dominated, but change is happening—albeit slowly. For anyone who has ever operated a forestry machine, it’s easy to understand the appeal: the challenge, the nature, the technology, and the direct connection between the machine and the forest. Every day brings something new. Ida describes it as a feeling of freedom:
“Sitting in the cab in the morning, watching the sun rise first for me and then over the village… it’s an incredible feeling.”

“You might think every day is the same—that you’re just harvesting or forwarding—but in reality, every day is different. There are new challenges: a bridge that needs to be built, a dense stand, something that just won’t cooperate.”

80,000 Hours

That’s a remarkable amount of work hours for a single machine, the Norcar 600 owned by Erkki Rinne is taken well care of, it even has the original Diesel engine.
Kieran Anders Forestry

Kieran Anders is a forestry contractor working in the lake district. His work involves hand cutting and extracting timber using a skidder and tractor-trailer forwarder.
Promoting safety in the workplace

It is not possible to eliminate chain shot, but there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.
Glasfryn Fencing and Sawmill

Arwel takes great pride in the fact that the mill has no waste whatsoever, “the peelings are used for children’s playgrounds, gardens and for farm animals in barns in the winter and the sawdust has multiple uses in gardens and farms as well.
Keeping Timber Hauliers Safe

Timber hauliers need to encourage young blood in, and also look after the hauliers we have, we need make the sector a safe and positive place to work.

FIND US ON

Choosing this path wasn’t an obvious decision for everyone. Alva-Li started the forest machine operator program because she didn’t want a purely academic education, and the first period felt tough. But now? “That completely changed after an internship I had. Now I really enjoy it.”

They talk about the freedom in the job and the sense of being part of something bigger. Ida describes it as being a part of the forestry cycle, where what she does plays an important role.
“It’s a shame that so few people know what we actually do, that it’s here, from the cab, that the wood processing journey begins. People take forestry and tree products for granted and don’t think about the work that goes into it.”

Nothing Special – Yet Important

When we talk about gender equality in the industry, the girls agree: it’s not something they actively think about. None of them see it as a big deal to be a woman in forestry.
“We didn’t apply to the program because we’re girls,” says Alva-Li. “We operate harvesters and forwarders, just like everyone else,” Ida adds.

At the same time, they’re aware that their choice matters, not least for future generations.
“You don’t think of yourself as a role model, but maybe we can inspire someone else to give it a try,” says Ida.

Their teacher, Hanna Augustsson, also sees how it makes a difference. She herself went through the program and worked in the industry for several years before becoming a teacher.
“It’s important to have female instructors too. And to show that this job isn’t about gender. Besides, girls are often calmer and more methodical.”

See Alva-Li and Ida operate the school’s machines

The Future

Many in the class see themselves working in the forest in the future. Ida dreams of starting her own machine team, and Alva-Li also sees herself in a cab down the road but is open to different career paths.
And for younger girls considering the same choice, they have a simple message:
“If it’s something you’re passionate about, just go for it,” says Alva-Li.

And that’s exactly what they’re doing.