The Career Outlook for Carpenters in the United States
Are you interested in a career in carpentry? There are over 1,025,599 people working as carpenters across the United States. This is also an industry that’s expected to grow significantly within the next decade. The job market related to carpentry is expected to grow by at least 8% within the years 2016 to 2026.
The Employability and Demand of Carpenters
If you’re looking for employment in a career with good prospects, then carpentry could suit you. It’s also been projected that the demand for carpenters in the country will continue to grow. According to projections, there could be a need for as many as 89,401 new carpenters within the next decade.
When you compare this to the projected number of carpenters retiring – which is 5,300. Then you’ll see that there will be a significantly larger number of carpenters needed in the workforce. When it comes to the building trades, carpenters are the largest number of professionals in the whole category.
As the growth in the country’s population leads to an increased demand for more homes, the need for carpenters is expected to rise. There are other segments that carpenters also find work in, but they usually find the most work from new homeowners.
You could also be called in to remodel or to renovate a property. The customer could also want you to repair or to upgrade items that they have around their home. Carpenters can also find work on construction projects related to new hotels, retail spaces, and even office buildings. Other buildings you can find work in, during the construction phase, include restaurants, factories and even power plants.
There is a fear in the industry however, that modular or prefabricated wooden fixtures and components can take work away. Should there be fluctuations in the economy, then this can also affect the job market. Despite this, carpenters are likely to find consistent employment. Especially if you’re a carpenter who is trained or experienced, you’re unlikely to find that you don’t have regular work.
There are also carpenters who choose to specialize in a certain area, such as converting buildings, interior design and restoration. The nature of the job market for carpenters in the United States is essentially cyclical in nature. This means that there could be times you find yourself working for a project manager or a contractor. At other times, you could be working independently.
In the regions where there is a large population, the demand for carpenters will also be higher. You should also consider carpenters liability insurance. This is as your career leaves you vulnerable to certain risk factors, such as getting sued by a client. With carpenters liability insurance you can protect your career as well as your finances. If you want to learn more about carpenters liability insurance, then click here.
Which States Have More Carpenters?
California is the state in the United States With the largest number of carpenters. There are around 96,460 carpenters working in the state. New York is another state where a large number of carpenters find work. There are around 47,220 carpenters employed in this state. If you choose to work as a carpenter in either of these states, then you’re likely to find more work opportunities.
This is as the growth of population as well as business has led to an increased demand for carpenters. Now what about the other states where large numbers of carpenters are employed? Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania as well as Washington are other states where large numbers of carpenters find work.
But what about the states where the lowest number of carpenters are employed? Such states may have a low demand for carpenters at the moment. So if you want to do carpentry work in such a state, then consider doing your research first. If you already have a job that you’re moving there for, then this shouldn’t be a problem for you. However, in case you don’t already have a job in one of these states, then consider getting a job before you move there. This will let you test what the job market there is like.
Generally, the states with the lowest number of carpenters are employed include Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Guam, as well as the Virgin Islands.
What Will Your Work Environment Be Like?
A carpenter can find themselves working inside, or outside. Usually though, a rough carpenter needs to work outdoors. A finish carpenter on the other hand will be working either indoors or in factories. There are carpenters who work on pre-fabricating cabinets while others find work in construction sites. The kind of carpentry you choose to do will play a role in determining what your work environment will be like.
Conclusion
The job market for carpenters is generally good and the demand for carpenters is also expected to rise. If you’re interested in a career in carpentry, then now is the right time to enter this career path.
