Workforce Development

Young adults gain wildfire workforce skills in Eastern Oregon

Communities across Eastern Oregon need more trained workers to reduce wildfire risk and manage forests safely. Fuels reduction, forest restoration and wildfire preparedness work require skilled crews who understand both forestry ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

OSU field courses bolster rangeland workforce

The sagebrush biome is the largest native ecosystem in North America and one of the most at risk. Altered fire regimes, expanding juniper and invasive annual grasses have made management more difficult across Oregon and the ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

Outdoor tour guides build skills and connections statewide

Tourism is one of Oregon’s largest economic sectors, and guided trips are an important part of the state’s outdoor recreation economy. Fishing guides, outfitters and tour operators help visitors experience Oregon’s natural areas...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

Student teams support watershed monitoring in Jackson County

Across Jackson County and much of Oregon, restoration and conservation projects often outpace the available funding and staff capacity to monitor them effectively. At the same time, high school students might lack awareness of ...

Apr 2025 | Impact Story

FireBright provides career paths and builds wildfire-resilient communities

To build strong long-term community resilience against wildfires, it's important to involve students. This helps them understand our wildfire-adapted environment and opens career opportunities for them. Agencies like the Oregon Department...

Feb 2025 | Impact Story

Virtual Canopy enhances forestry safety and sparks youths’ career interest

Oregon’s forest sector is a vital part of the state’s economy and communities. It ranks third in Oregon’s gross domestic product, producing 28% of the nation’s plywood and 16.5% of U.S. lumber. But the industry faces ...

Feb 2025 | Impact Story

OSU Extension 4-H babysitter training tackles Oregon's child care shortage

Families in Oregon face several challenges when it comes to finding quality child care. Because there is a significant shortage of child care slots, especially for infants and toddlers, many families struggle to find available ...

Jan 2025 | Impact Story

Malheur Works connects youths to careers in rural Oregon

Malheur County, along Oregon’s eastern border with Idaho, is known for its vast high-desert landscape and agricultural heritage. But it also faces deep economic challenges. With the second-highest child poverty rate in Oregon — ...

Jan 2025 | Impact Story

Partnership builds forest management expertise in northeast Oregon

Forest landowners in northeast Oregon are dealing with the effects of nearly a century of fire suppression. With low timber prices and rising wildfire risk, many need financial assistance to complete fuels reduction and forest ...

Mar 2024 | Impact Story

Aerospace academy inspires rural youths to explore STEM careers

n rural communities, underserved youths often face limited access to career pathways in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields due to a lack of opportunities and resources. At the same time, there is a growing ...

Mar 2023 | Impact Story