Woodworkers Career Opportunities

Career as woodworkers is in demand as wood products are more useful and popular than the plastic and other materials. The main job is to meet with the increasing demands of wood products by producing finished products from the lumber. Many of the wood products need to be produced on a large-scale. Woodworkers are typically employed in the industries that make wood products like furniture, kitchen cabinets and musical instruments. Other products are crafted in shops that make architectural woodwork, handmade-wooden article and many more items. Although, it may seem that the woodworkers are generally craftsman creating wooden art, the modern wooden industries are highly technical. Work is done with the help of robots and CNC machines.

Tasks:-

Career as woodworkers is the best option for those who have good mechanical aptitude. The tasks that are carried out by the woodworkers are as follows:

Production woodworkers set up, and operate all types of machineries that are used in the wood manufacturing and other related industries
In sawmills, sawing machine operators and tenders set up, operate, and tend the wood-sawing machines that are used for cutting wooden parts
In manufacturing industries, the woodworkers first determine the process of assembly by following the blueprints of shop drawings
Most of the woodworkers operate the CNC machineries for wood production. Therefore they should be acquainted with CNC programming

Qualification:-

The candidates who wish to make a career as woodworkers need to be highly skilled. The qualification that is needed to enter these jobs is as follows:

High school diploma or certifications in wood processing activities and machine operation is accepted most of the times
On-job training is provided by most of the employers
Knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, mechanics, electronics and computers is an added advantage
Training in wood technology, wood engineering, and production management is beneficial to acquire jobs in reputed organizations

Other necessary skills:-

The individuals with good mechanical aptitude can easily succeed in this career as woodworkers. However, there are many other skills that would be fruitful to get dream jobs for woodworkers. They are as follows:

Excellent interpersonal and written skills
Exceptional organizational and time management skills
Outstanding creative, analytical and logical skills
Superb observations skills and a fast learner

Place of work:-

In the career as woodworkers, the place of work differs according to the specific work and industries. In logging and sawmills, workers handle heavy machineries and encounter extreme noise, dust, and other pollutants. Standing for longer time, and cutting wood is the basic position of most of the woodworkers. The woodworkers normally work for 40 hours a week. However, working for longer time is common in this profession.

Job Opportunities:-

Career as woodworkers is the demanding career, which has maximum job opportunities available in the wood manufacturing industries. The other industries that employ the woodworkers in large numbers are as follows:

Wholesale and retail lumber dealers
Furniture shops
Construction firms
Furniture repair shops
Reupholstery

Remuneration:-

Career as woodworkers is a prosperous career. Therefore the woodworkers are highly paid. However, the salary mainly differs on the basis of specialization of work, education, location and employment. The types of woodworkers who are well paid are listed below:

Cabinetmakers
Bench carpenters
Sawing machine setters, operators and tenders
Woodworking machine setters, operators and tenders

The salary for entry-level woodworkers is comparatively less. The salary goes on increasing with years of experience in gaining expertise in this field.

Job Progress:-

The career as woodworkers although a thriving career, the chances of promotions are limited. The chances of promotions depend on education, training and years of experience. The woodworkers who possess leadership skills become supervisors, or instructors. Production workers can advance to positions like trainers or become instructor in colleges and institutes.

Employment forecast:-

The employment in the career as woodworkers is expected to decline in the future. The increase in advanced technology has impacted the wood producing industries. The use of robots and CNC machines has increased in the wood manufacturing industries. The jobs of woodworkers are made easier. On the other hand, the demand for wood furniture and other wood products is increasing; therefore, opportunities should be available for those workers who specialize in products like moldings, cabinets, stairs and windows.