Shigoto Zukan
日本語

How to become 林業作業education, training, experience, licenses and the steps to enter

Japan Transportation Confidence ★★★★★

Average annual pay
¥3.61M
≈ $22,941
Top pay (est.)
¥5.88M
Top 10% ¥5.12M
Pay in 5 years
¥4.21Mest.
2031
Pay in 10 years
¥4.91Mest.
¥4.23M–¥5.70M
Outlook score
57/100
★★★☆☆ Average
AI replacement risk
16%
Very low
Labor demand
High
Openings-to-applicants 2.21x

How to become 林業作業

The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.

Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
入職にあたって、特に学歴や資格は必要とされない。学校卒業後、森林組合や林業会社等の林業事業体に就職するのが一般的である。公的補助を受けて関連団体が実施する林業の担い手を育成するための公的就職支援事業（「緑の雇用」など）を経由して入職する人もいる。
　チェーンソーや刈払機を使用する仕事をする場合には、安全衛生のため公的機関などが実施している講習を受ける。林道建設に役立つ測量士や、ハーベスタなど大型林業機械の取扱い資格、労働安全関連の資格があれば就職には有利となる。
　林業従事者数は長期的に減少傾向で推移しており令和2年(2020年)には約44,000人となっている。
　林業作業の仕事に新たに就く人は年間で概ね3,000人前後で推移し、直近では3,333人となっている。（2023年時点*1）。約半数が50歳以上で占められていて、様々な職業を経て30代、40代で初めて林業作業の職に就く人もいる。自然が好きで林業をやりたいという気持ちがあれば、学歴や職歴、年齢などの制限は比較的少ない職種といえる。
　育林・伐採・運搬など、林業の業務は班単位で作業を行うため、協調性が求められる。

*1 林野庁　林業労働力の動向

Skills, education and requirements for 林業作業

Key skills

Active Listening
3.4
Equipment Selection
3.3
Instructing
3.2
Speaking
3.1
Social Perceptiveness
3.0
Coordination
3.0
Reading Comprehension
2.9
Equipment Maintenance
2.9

Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.

Key knowledge areas

Mechanical
1.4
Food Production
1.3
Production and Processing
1.1
Education and Training
0.9
Communications and Media
0.8
Biology
0.8
Transportation
0.8
Building and Construction
0.8

What the work involves

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentCommunicating with People Outside the Organization

Important abilities

Problem SensitivityStatic StrengthGross Body EquilibriumStaminaArm-Hand SteadinessReaction Time

Licenses and certifications (Japan)

Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.

Education of workers

Training before entry

Related work experience

Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience, licenses)

Career path and how to earn more as 林業作業

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), Population Census and Hello Work employment statistics as published on the MHLW job tag site (retrieved Nov 1, 2026); Occupational Information Database (JILPT). Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.