America's Carpentry Shortage

Since the 1940s, America has been struggling with a shortage of carpenters. There have been only two significant reprieves for construction as a whole since then: the 2008 Great Recession and the 2020 pandemic. However, in 2022, as American home construction approaches pre-2008 levels, the carpentry shortage is all coming to a head. Across all construction fields, there is an estimated shortage of some 650,000 tradespeople, with carpenters topping the National Association of Home Builders' 2021 list of subcontractors in short supply.

So, of all the skilled trades, why is carpentry facing such a shortage, and what are the main culprits? The mass exodus can be broken down into three reasons: compensation, certification, and early retirement.

The median annual income of a carpenter is just over $48,000, significantly less than other skilled labor jobs, such as boilermakers, plumbers, brick masons, and electricians. It is thought that that low pay is a result of the long hours required to do the job.

The nation's lack of qualified carpenters is part of a bigger trend. In 2021, Stanley Black and Decker and KRC Research spoke to 800 high schoolers, 200 parents, and 500 workers in skilled trade professions. The survey found that the majority of young people have favorable views of the skilled trades, but many believe that the starting pay was even less than what it actually is. Not only is carpentry one of the lowest paying skilled labor jobs, but the public thinks that the pay is even lower than it actually is.

Certifications and licenses, or lack thereof, also play a big role in carpenters' pay. To become an electrician or plumber in most states, you need a certification or license to practice. Carpentry, however, has less rigid standards. As such the profession may lose its meaning and value in the eyes of the market.

The pandemic spurred a lot of early retirees in the carpentry field. Suddenly, a large group of them was gone. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors, the average age of retirement for construction workers is 61. Today, a staggering one-fifth of the current workforce is over the age of 55.

Carpentry, one of the oldest trades in human history, is facing a major challenge in the United States today. As the majority of carpenters retire, there are fewer young people entering the profession, resulting in a significant loss of knowledge base and experience.

For thousands of years, every generation has learned from the previous generation, but for the first time, we are not seeing that knowledge transfer in carpentry. This loss of information transfer is a significant concern because carpentry requires a wide range of skills and experience that cannot be learned from books or videos.

According to the Department of Education, there was a major dip in construction class enrollment in American high schools from 2007 to 2017. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in carpentry, which some attribute to social media and reality television programs centered around homes and general construction.

One group that is helping to keep the knowledge base alive is the Carpenters. They are injecting humor and personalities into their educational fix-it-yourself videos. These videos are a great way to teach the younger generation the basics of carpentry, and they are also a lot of fun to watch.

The future of carpentry depends on its youth, and it is encouraging to see the rise in interest in recent years. As one wise person once said, "Carpenters are just doctors for houses, and houses will always get sick too." Therefore, carpenters will always be necessary.

In conclusion, it is essential that we preserve the knowledge base and experience in carpentry by encouraging young people to learn this trade. We need to ensure that the younger generation has access to the right tools, resources, and educational programs to become the carpenters of the future. With the right support, we can help to ensure that the tradition of carpentry continues for generations to come.