Today, Sept. 14, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) will host a webinar titled “Building a Thriving Workforce for America” to release 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.
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 over 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.
The webinar will feature leading voices from across the outdoor recreation and workforce development communities discussing the state of the outdoor workforce, opportunities to strengthen career pathways, and the policies needed to support its continued growth.
WHAT: Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Webinar and Release of “Outdoor Workforce Policy Priorities”
WHEN: 11 a.m. MT/1 p.m. ET, Monday, Sept. 14, 2026
WHERE: Virtual Webinar — Registration Link
WHO: Outdoor Recreation Roundtable leaders and representatives from the outdoor recreation industry, higher education, trade schools and workforce development community.
The New Policy Recommendations Aim To:
- Validate the 5.2 million-strong outdoor recreation workforce as an essential part of the U.S. economy and communities across the country.
- Drive opportunities for federal and state policymakers that support the continued growth, development, and sustainability of the outdoor recreation workforce.
- Highlight ORR’s Outdoor Recreation Workforce Consortium, which brings together more than 30 colleges, universities, and trade schools, along with a 10-member Steering Committee, to strengthen education and career pathways into the outdoor recreation economy.
The resource was developed with input from ORR’s Workforce Consortium and other ORR members and reflects perspectives from across the outdoor recreation economy and education community.
This work is generously supported by The VF Foundation.
