Outdoor Recreation Group Issued Workforce Recommendations
The industry, which employs 5.2 million Americans, aims to expand training and career pathway programs nationwide.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Employment
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The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable released a new policy report, Building a Thriving Workforce for America, to address labor gaps in the $1.3 trillion outdoor sector. The recommendations focus on streamlining training and career pathways across the industry.
Why it matters
The report provides a framework for policymakers and businesses to address the ongoing labor demands within this large segment of the U.S. economy. Expanding specialized training and educational partnerships is essential for sustaining growth across the outdoor recreation workforce.
The outdoor recreation sector accounts for 5.2 million U.S. jobs and $1.3 trillion in annual economic value. A consortium of 30 academic and trade institutions contributed to the four-category policy framework.
The players
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
A national coalition of outdoor recreation associations and businesses that advocates for industry-wide policy and economic growth.
Outdoor Recreation Workforce Consortium
A collaborative body of over 30 colleges, universities, and trade schools focused on developing educational pathways for the outdoor labor market.
VF Foundation
The philanthropic arm of a global apparel and footwear company that provided financial support for the consortium's research and facilitation.
The details
The recommendations target four core operational areas: coordinated language, funding and incentives, regional innovations, and career pathways. These initiatives were developed by the Outdoor Recreation Workforce Consortium with support from the VF Foundation to standardize training and recruitment efforts across the industry.
Timeline
September 23, 2026: The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable released the policy recommendations.
Market Landscape
The initiative aligns with broader efforts to integrate private industry labor needs with public vocational training infrastructure. It follows the pattern set by sector-specific workforce compacts like the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Operators in the outdoor recreation space should track upcoming funding and incentive programs for workforce development in their regions. Reviewing career pathway models now could help small businesses secure future talent pipelines as these standards begin to take hold.
The takeaway
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable's report signals a shift toward formalizing specialized trade education for the outdoor economy. Business owners should monitor the adoption of these new career pathway standards to anticipate potential changes in regional hiring costs and training requirements.
Further reading
For more on industry labor trends, visit Employment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ark Valley Voice.
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Should federal and state governments formally recognize outdoor recreation as a distinct workforce sector?
