The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) released new outdoor workforce policy recommendations for state and federal policymakers to support and strengthen the 5.2 million Americans whose jobs are powered by outdoor recreation. The recommendations, contained in a new resource titled “Building a Thriving Workforce for America,” were unveiled during a webinar hosted by ORR that brought together industry and education leaders to discuss the future of the outdoor recreation workforce.
This new resource is the companion to previous research from ORR identifying key opportunities for hiring organizations across the outdoor industry.
Developed by members of ORR’s Outdoor Recreation Workforce Consortium — a coalition of more than 30 colleges, universities, and trade schools nationwide — with input from outdoor recreation industry leaders, the new recommendations provide a roadmap for ensuring the outdoor recreation workforce can continue to grow, adapt, and meet the needs of one of America’s most important economic sectors. This research and the facilitation of the Consortium are supported by The VF Foundation.
“The outdoor recreation economy grows when we invest in the strength of the outdoor recreation workforce,” said Chris Perkins, vice president of programs at the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “That means working with the colleges, universities, and trade schools already training the next generation of guides, land managers, and gear makers, and giving policymakers a clear, practical roadmap for backing that work. These recommendations are the product of that partnership, and we’re ready to put them to use.”
“The outdoor recreation workforce is the foundation everything else is built on, from labor market data to federal training dollars to product development and delivery,” said Danny Twilley, assistant vice president of Economic & Community Development of the Brad & Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative at West Virginia University. “So formally recognizing it as its own workforce sector is paramount for the future of the industry. These new policy recommendations lay out exactly how to get there.”
“We can’t manage what we don’t measure,” said Dr. Dan McCoy, director of the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute at the University of Wyoming. “By calling for dedicated research funding on wages, seasonality, and skill gaps, these priorities give policymakers and employers the data they need to make good decisions—and to build a durable outdoor recreation workforce.”
“These policy recommendations will help introduce young people to careers with purpose and value, and support local efforts to build pathways into them,” said Jayson Seaman, professor and Chair of the Department of Recreation Management and Policy at the University of New Hampshire. “Outdoor recreation careers provide meaning to both individuals and society but accessing them can be confusing. Investments in policy solutions and structural improvements around workforce development will help strengthen the industry over the long haul, especially in rural and destination communities where the needs are most acute. It was a real privilege to contribute to this work over the last year.”
“Rivers and their watersheds do not stop at state lines, and neither should a workforce development strategy,” said Brad Collett, professor and Executive Director at Tennessee RiverLine, an initiative of the University of Tennessee Extension. “These recommendations recognize the essential role that regional partnerships will play in building a durable outdoor recreation workforce across the country. We applaud the collaborative effort invested to develop this resource and are pleased to celebrate its release.”
“Sound policy starts with sound data,” said Randall Rosenberger, professor of Applied Economics and Interim Director of the Center for the Outdoor Economy at Oregon State University. “Investing in outdoor recreation workforce research — from labor market trends and compensation studies to access and community vitality — gives federal and state leaders the evidence base they need to grow this industry responsibly and sustainably.”
“The Outdoor Recreation Workforce Policy Recommendations make sense and will strengthen a thriving industry with 5.2 million American workers now and well into the future,” said Mike Hoover, Ed.D., Clinical Instructor of Outdoor Leadership at the University of Arkansas.
“The future of conservation and outdoor recreation depends on developing a workforce that is as resilient and innovative as the landscapes and communities it serves,” said Dawson Metcalf, director of Enterprise at the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. “By investing in career pathways, experiential learning, and partnerships among education, industry, nonprofits, and government, we can prepare the next generation of leaders while strengthening the outdoor recreation economy. These priorities provide an important roadmap for making that vision a reality.”
“Partnerships and incentives like Outdoor Workforce Zones and other forward-thinking strategies can help rural Appalachia accelerate entrepreneurship, strengthen small businesses, and build resilient local economies,” said Jeffrey Simcoe, executive director of the Frostburg Outdoor Recreation Economy Institute (FOREI) at Frostburg State University. “These priorities elevate those opportunities to the national policy agenda, and we are grateful to help advance the mission forward.”
The full report, “Building a Thriving Workforce for America,” is available here.
