Most woodworkers are trained on the job; basic machine operations may be learned in a few months, but becoming a skilled woodworker often requires 2 or more years.
Employment of woodworkers is expected to grow more slowly than average through the year 2012. Little or no growth is expected among woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders.
Job prospects will be best for workers with knowledge of computerized numerical control machine tool operation.
Despite the development of sophisticated plastics and other materials, the demand for wood products continues unabated. Helping to meet this demand are woodworkers. Woodworkers are found in industries that produce wood, such as sawmills and plywood mills; in industries that use wood to produce furniture, kitchen cabinets, musical instruments, and other fabricated wood products; or in small shops that make architectural woodwork, furniture, and many other specialty items.
All woodworkers are employed at some stage of the process through which logs of wood are transformed into finished products. Some of these workers produce the structural elements of buildings; others mill hardwood and softwood lumber; still others assemble finished wood products. They operate machines that cut, shape, assemble, and finish raw wood to make the doors, windows, cabinets, trusses, plywood, flooring, paneling, molding, and trim that are components of most homes. Others may fashion home accessories, such as beds, sofas, tables, dressers, and chairs. In addition to these household goods, woodworkers also make sporting goods, including baseball bats and oars, as well as musical instruments, toys, caskets, tool handles, and thousands of other wooden items.
Production woodworkers set up, operate, and tend woodworking machines such as power saws, planers, sanders, lathes, jointers, and routers that cut and shape components from lumber, plywood, and other wood products. In sawmills, sawing machine operators and tenders set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines that cut logs into planks, timbers, or boards. In plants manufacturing wood products, woodworkers first determine the best method of shaping and assembling parts, working from blueprints, supervisors’ instructions, or shop drawings that woodworkers themselves produce. Before cutting, they often must measure and mark the materials. They verify dimensions and may trim parts using handtools such as planes, chisels, wood files, or sanders to ensure a tight fit. Woodworking machine operators and tenders set up, operate, or tend specific woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood-nailing machines. Lower skilled operators may merely press a switch on a woodworking machine and monitor the automatic operation, whereas more highly skilled operators set up equipment, cut and shape wooden parts, and verify dimensions using a template, caliper, or rule.
The next step in the manufacturing process is the production of subassemblies using fasteners and adhesives. Next, the pieces are brought together to form a complete unit. The product is then finish-sanded, stained, and, if necessary, coated with a sealer, such as lacquer or varnish. Woodworkers may perform this work in teams or be assisted by a helper.
Woodworkers have been greatly affected by the introduction of computer-controlled machinery. This technology has raised worker productivity by allowing one operator to simultaneously tend a greater number of machines. With computerized numerical controls (CNC), an operator can program a machine to perform a sequence of operations automatically, resulting in greater precision and reliability. The integration of computers with equipment has improved production speeds and capabilities, simplified setup and maintenance requirements, and increased the demand for workers with computer skills.
While this costly equipment has had a great impact on workers in the largest, most efficient firms, precision or custom woodworkers—who generally work in smaller firms—have continued to employ the same production techniques they have used for many years. Workers such as cabinetmakersand bench
carpenters; model makers and patternmakers; and furniture finishers work on a customized basis, often building one-of-a-kind items. These highly skilled precision woodworkers usually perform a complete cycle of tasks—cutting, shaping, and preparing surfaces, and assembling prepared parts of complex wood components into a finished wood product. For this reason, these workers normally need substantial training and an ability to work from detailed instructions and specifications. In addition, they often are required to exercise independent judgment when undertaking an assignment.
Working conditions vary by industry and specific job duties. In logging and sawmills, for example, working conditions are physically demanding due to the handling of heavy, bulky material. Workers in these industries also may encounter excessive noise, dust, and other air pollutants. However, the use of earplugs and respirators may partially alleviate these problems. Also, rigid adherence to safety precautions minimizes risk of injury from contact with rough wood stock, sharp tools, and power equipment. The risk of injury also is lowered by the installation of computer-controlled equipment, which reduces the physical labor and hands-on contact with machinery.
In furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing, employees who operate machinery often must wear ear and eye protection. They also must follow operating safety instructions and use safety shields or guards to prevent accidents. Those who work in the finishing area must be provided with an appropriate dust or vapor mask or a complete protective safety suit, or must work in a finishing environment that removes all vapors and dust particles from the atmosphere. Prolonged standing, lifting, and fitting of heavy objects are common characteristics of the job.
Woodworkers held about 374,000 jobs in 2002. Self-employed woodworkers, mostly cabinetmakers and furniture finishers, accounted for 10 percent of these jobs. Employment among detailed woodworking occupations was distributed as follows:
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
147,000
Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing
95,000
Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood
56,000
Furniture finishers
39,000
Model makers, wood
4,400
Patternmakers, wood
4,200
All other woodworkers
29,000
About 3 out of 4 woodworkers were employed in manufacturing industries. Among these woodworkers, 41 percent were found in establishments fabricating household and office furniture and fixtures and 28 percent worked in wood product manufacturing, producing a variety of raw, intermediate, and finished wood stock. Wholesale and retail lumber dealers, furniture stores, reupholstery and furniture repair shops, and construction firms also employ woodworkers.
Woodworking jobs are found throughout the country. However, production jobs are concentrated in the South and Northwest, close to the supply of wood, whereas furniture makers are more prevalent in the East. Custom shops can be found everywhere, but generally are concentrated in or near highly populated areas.
Most woodworkers are trained on the job, picking up skills informally from experienced workers. Most woodworkers learn basic machine operations and job tasks in a few months, but becoming a skilled woodworker often requires 2 or more years.
Some woodworkers acquire skills through vocational education or by working as carpenters on construction jobs. Others may attend colleges or universities that offer training in areas including wood technology, furniture manufacturing, wood engineering, and production management. These programs prepare students for positions in production, supervision, engineering, and management.
Beginners usually observe and help experienced machine operators. They may supply material to, or remove fabricated products from, machines. Trainees also do simple machine operating jobs, while at first closely supervised by experienced workers. As beginners gain experience, they perform more complex jobs with less supervision. Some may learn to read blueprints, set up machines, and plan the sequence of the work. Employers increasingly seek applicants with a high school diploma or the equivalent, because of the growing sophistication of machinery and the constant need for retraining. Persons seeking woodworking jobs can enhance their employment and advancement prospects by completing high school and receiving training in mathematics, science, and computer applications. Other important qualities for entrants in this occupation include mechanical ability, manual dexterity, and the ability to pay attention to detail.
Advancement opportunities often are limited and depend upon availability, seniority, and a worker’s skills and initiative. Sometimes experienced woodworkers become inspectors or supervisors responsible for the work of a group of woodworkers. Production workers often can advance into these positions by assuming additional responsibilities and by attending workshops, seminars, or college programs. Those who are highly skilled may set up their own woodworking shops.
Employment of woodworkers is expected to grow more slowly than average through the year 2012. Little or no growth is expected among woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders. Employment of cabinetmakers and bench
carpenters and furniture finishers is expected to grow more slowly than average and employment of model makers and patternmakers is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job openings also will arise each year because of the need to replace experienced woodworkers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Demand for woodworkers will stem from increases in population, personal income, and business expenditures, in addition to the continuing need for repair and renovation of residential and commercial properties. Therefore, opportunities should be available for woodworkers who specialize in such items as moldings, cabinets, stairs, and windows. Due to increasingly automated manufacturing processes, job prospects will be best for highly skilled woodworkers with knowledge of computerized numerical control machine tool operation.
Several factors may limit the growth of woodworking occupations. Technological advances, such as robots and CNC machinery, will continue to increase productivity among woodworkers, preventing employment from rising as fast as the demand for wood products, particularly in the mills and manufacturing plants where many processes can be automated. In addition, more jobs in the United States will be lost as imports continue to grow and as U.S. firms move some production to other countries. Also, the demand for wood may be reduced somewhat, as materials such as metal, plastic, and fiberglass continue to be used in many products as alternatives to wood. Environmental measures designed to control various pollutants used in, or generated by, woodworking processes also may adversely impact employment.
Employment in all woodworking specialties is highly sensitive to economic cycles. During economic downturns, workers are subject to layoffs or reductions in hours.
Median hourly earnings of cabinetmakers and bench
carpenters were $11.54 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $9.26 and $14.66. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.70, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $18.11. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of cabinetmakers and bench
carpenters in 2002 are shown below:
Household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing
11.19
Other wood product manufacturing
11.14
Median hourly earnings of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood were $10.62 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $8.70 and $13.11. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.36, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $15.94. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood in 2002 are shown below:
Sawmills and wood preservation
$11.59
Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood product manufacturing
10.91
Household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing
10.40
Other wood product manufacturing
10.06
Median hourly earnings of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing were $10.59 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $8.72 and $13.03. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.39, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $15.93. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing in 2002 are shown below:
Veneer, plywood, and engineered wood product manufacturing
10.99
Household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing
10.54
Other wood product manufacturing
10.26
In 2002, median hourly earnings were $10.92 for furniture finishers and $10.11 for all other woodworkers.
Some woodworkers, such as those in logging or sawmills who are engaged in processing primary wood and building materials, are members of the International Association of
Machinists. Others belong to the United Brotherhood of
carpenters and Joiners of America.
For information about woodworking occupations, contact local furniture manufacturers, sawmills and planing mills, cabinetmaking or millwork firms, lumber dealers, a local of one of the unions mentioned above, or the nearest office of the State employment service.
Suggested citation:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition,
Woodworkers, on the Internet at
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos237.htm
(visited November 11, 2004).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
Suite 2135
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20212-0001
