There are many trades to choose from when searching for a labour career. So many that you might not know what is what yet. So, you’ve heard of carpenters, but aren’t sure if carpentry is a good career? We’re here to help!

Carpentry offers enticing wages to workers and is a very stimulating working environment, which means it’s a good career path. There are constant learning opportunities and a high demand for carpenters. The job can be physically taxing at times, but opportunities to create within this field are great.

Below we’re going to discuss the ins and outs of the benefits of a carpentry career to help you with your future decision!

Is It a Good Idea to Become a Carpenter?

There are many benefits of working as a carpenter which can make becoming a carpenter a good idea. You won’t be short of work if you take the time to study and master your trade.

The first advantage of working in commercial carpentry is that the salaries are competitive. Contractors are constantly on the lookout for carpenters to help them with their next project. They aren’t afraid to pay top dollar for the best of the best.

Commercial carpenters earn much more than minimum wage, so you can rest assured that your salary will reflect your efforts.

Another, and perhaps the most important, advantage of being a carpenter is job security. Many people think that trade jobs would become obsolete as a result of technological advancements, but this isn’t the case. In fact, technology is helping commercial carpenters in making their jobs easier.

Precision instruments and sophisticated equipment are certainly changing the game, but they do not pose a danger to jobs. Humans are required to operate these machines, and no robot can solve problems like a person. Employers are constantly on the lookout to give qualified reliable carpenters work. More than the demand though, there are other benefits to carpentry work.

Other benefits of working as a carpenter include:

• A variety of job paths to choose from
• Learning transferable skills
• The ability to work on woodworking projects from the comfort of your own home
• Satisfaction and enjoyment
• Physical health advantages

But, if you want to be comfortable all the time, carpentry is not the career for you. Carpenters perform physically demanding tasks and usually work outdoors, where they may be exposed to inclement weather.

Carpenters have a higher rate of accidents and illnesses than the national average, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics. Muscular strains, falls, and cuts are the most frequent injuries.

Carpenters may also be required to work weekends and nights. While this is beneficial to your financial situation, it may be exhausting and negatively impact your social and personal life.

What Do Carpenters Do?

Carpenters use wood and other materials to create, install, and repair infrastructural frameworks and buildings. They work on a variety of projects, including constructing building frames, roofs, and floors, as well as roads and bridges.

While carpentry tasks vary, most include studying clients’ designs or following a supervisor’s directions to determine the dimensions and installation methods needed for a project.

From there, they’ll use tools like saws, sanders, and chisels to shape and cut wood and other materials. Then put them together to make fittings and structures that are ready to install. They may utilize rigging gear and cranes to install construction frameworks, depending on the job.

Carpenters can establish their own business, but often will contact recruitment agencies and establish a professional relationship with recruiters. This relationship will encourage their name to be submitted to potential employers for carpentry work with valued clients. Rednax recruitment is an example of this kind of agency that connects hard-working labour workers with employers.

Do Carpenters Make Good Money?

According to PayScale, the typical qualified carpenter pay in Australia ranges from $40,000 to $90,000 AUD per year.

When you first begin your job as an apprentice carpenter, your salary will typically be at a starting point. It’s important to keep in mind that you’ll be paid as you learn, and your carpenter pay will increase as you gain experience.

The average income or pay rate for a carpenter apprentice in Australia, according to PayScale, is:

• $15 – $24 AU per hour
• $31,000 – $51,000 AU per year

Your earning potential increases significantly after you finish your apprenticeship program.

Why does this figure vary so much? Simply put, how much money you make is determined by who you work for (e.g., a carpentry company, a building, and construction company, or yourself). Also, how many hours you work, the type of carpentry tasks you choose, and your level of expertise.

Is Carpentry a Dying Trade?

Carpentry is definitely not a dying trade. In fact, it is one of the top 3 skilled trades jobs that will only grow in demand, alongside electricians and welders.

Carpentry has a promising future. A growing population continues to increase the demand for more houses, workplaces and healthcare facility construction.

The kinds of buildings we work and live in are changing as a result of innovative technology, which requires ongoing restorations and updates. That’s on top of the regular demands for carpenters, such as house expansions and repairs. Carpentry has a bright future.

Carpentry is one of the most in-demand trades and has the number of jobs has continued to increase from 2000 to 2020. It is also becoming a more diverse trade with many women choosing trades like carpentry as a career. But there has been a carpenter shortage in recent years, which means now is an even better time to join the trade!

How to Become a Carpenter

If you want to work as a carpenter, there are a few criteria you must fulfil. The following are the most typical steps to become a carpenter:

Obtain a High School Diploma

You’ll need a high school diploma or another secondary school pathway completion to register in carpentry programs or an apprenticeship program. The courses you take in high school may also help you prepare for the carpentry profession. Woodworking, blueprint reading, and drafting are relevant.

Participate in an Apprenticeship Program

Certificate and diploma programs are intended to familiarise you with hand and power tools. Also, acquiring basic skills in measuring, handling, assembling, and altering construction materials. Framing, drywalling, foundations, trim, siding, carpenter work safety, and roofing are some of the topics covered in these courses. Programs last between one and two years.

Apprenticeships focus on on-the-job training with some classroom learning thrown in for good measure. Most require that you be at least 18 years old, but some may accept you at 17. This will be if you have a high school diploma or have followed another technology school pathway.

Obtain Employment

In the construction industry, you may work for general contractors, specialized contractors, or for yourself. You may also work for a manufacturing company, a store, or a government agency. Depending on employment availability, a common approach is to alternate between working for yourself and working for a company/contractor. Often, employers will turn to labour hire companies such as Canberra Labour Hire to source the best skilled and general labour workers, including carpenters.

Advance Your Carpentry Career

Carpenters can advance in a variety of ways. You can get certified in pumping or scaffolding. This training may come through a formal journeyman-training program via your union. It can also come from a workforce skills course at a community college or technical school.

Though your skills can come from your tertiary courses, will your degree determine your career? Have you ever considered what the difference between a job and a career is? Rednax Recruitment is proud to connect reliable labour workers with employers, and also for offering career and lifestyle advice in our resources.