I would like to offer that, at its core, the tree care industry is a people business.

It’s safe to say that the success of every job our members go out on depends on having trained, skilled professionals in their crews. Whether it’s a climber heading into the canopy, a crew leader coordinating a complex removal, or a plant health care technician diagnosing a pest issue, people remain our industry’s most important asset.

The need for skilled workers isn’t new, but it remains one of the most important issues affecting the future of our industry today.

“We have the work… but do we have the crews to handle it safely?”

The ability to recruit and retain people who show up consistently, embrace a culture of safety, master technical skills, and perform reliably in high-risk environments is essential to building and growing a successful tree care company. Because in our industry, you can’t just “fill a position.” You’re relying on someone to operate dangerous equipment, make split-second decisions, sometimes working 40–60 feet off the ground. That’s not something you can rush.

Workforce issues have become a major topic of discussion in Washington. Congress continues to debate immigration reforms, workforce development programs, skilled trades education, and temporary worker programs. While opinions differ on the best solutions, there is broad recognition that employers across many industries are struggling to find enough qualified workers.

For our members, these discussions are more than political headlines. They are policy conversations that have direct consequences for our businesses.

Politics vs. Policy

It’s easy to only look at workforce issues through a political lens. News coverage often focuses on elections, partisan disagreements, and competing proposals.

But policy is different than politics. Politics is the process by which ideas compete for public support and elected officials are chosen to represent their constituents. Policy is the outcome of that process. It is the laws, regulations, programs, and government decisions that affect how businesses operate. While political debates often focus on who is right or wrong, policy discussions focus on what works. For our members, the workforce question is ultimately a policy question: How can we create conditions that help employers find, train, and retain the skilled professionals they need? What policies will support a strong workforce and help tree care companies grow safely and sustainably?

While politicians may disagree on the approach, the underlying challenge remains the same. Employers need workers. Communities need jobs. Industries need a pipeline of skilled professionals.

For tree care, the answer is unlikely to come from any single proposal. Building a strong workforce requires a combination of recruitment, training, career awareness, apprenticeship opportunities, technical education, and policies that reflect workforce realities on the ground.

Why Tree Care Has a Unique Perspective

The tree care industry occupies a unique position in the workforce conversation.

Unlike some other industries, tree care careers cannot be outsourced. Trees must be managed locally by trained professionals who understand safety, equipment operation, plant health, and risk management. The work is skilled, physically demanding, and increasingly technical.

Yet many policymakers have little firsthand understanding of what modern tree care looks like. They may not realize the level of training required to become a qualified climber, the investment companies make in safety programs, or the expertise needed to perform high-risk work safely and efficiently. For those tasked with developing effective public policy, understanding these realities is essential.

When Weather Challenges Meet Workforce Shortages, Communities Can Suffer

The workforce challenge facing tree care is about more than filling open positions. It is also about ensuring communities have access to the skilled professionals needed when they are needed most. Following major storms and severe weather events, tree care crews work long hours under difficult conditions to clear hazards, restore access, and support recovery efforts. Those responsibilities require training, experience, and a commitment to safety. As demand for these services grows, policymakers need to understand that workforce shortages do not only affect businesses. They can also affect how quickly communities recover from damaging weather events. That’s one reason workforce development, skilled trades education, and labor availability remain important public policy issues for the industry.

That’s where advocacy becomes important.

Why Relationships Matter

Effective advocacy is not about showing up when a problem arises. It is about building relationships before decisions are made. When policymakers and their staff understand an industry, know its challenges, and have trusted sources they can turn to for information, they are better equipped to develop policies that reflect real-world conditions. That relationship-building approach has long been at the center of TCIA’s advocacy efforts.

Turning Industry Experience into Better Policy

One of TCIA’s most important advocacy responsibilities is helping policymakers connect legislative discussions to real-world business conditions. Workforce shortages, skilled trades education, labor availability, and safety training can all be debated in Washington, but effective policy begins with a clear understanding of how those issues affect employers and workers on the ground.

To support that understanding, TCIA will soon begin providing quarterly updates to elected officials and staff in 25 key congressional districts across the country. These briefings will offer insight into workforce trends, industry priorities, and the practical challenges tree care companies face as they recruit, train, and retain skilled employees. By building relationships and serving as a trusted resource, TCIA can help ensure that conversations about workforce policy are informed by the experiences of the professionals who manage crews, respond to storms, and keep communities safe every day.

Looking Ahead

The workforce challenge facing tree care did not emerge overnight, and it will not be solved overnight. But one thing is clear: policymakers are paying attention.

As Congress continues discussing workforce development, immigration policy, and skilled trades programs, TCIA will continue to advocate for policies that help our members build strong, safe, and successful businesses.

Because behind every discussion in Washington is a simple question that tree care companies confront every day: Who will fill the next climbing crew?

Have a great weekend!