The construction industry is one industry which offers a good number of employment opportunities today, especially to carpenters. As well as new construction projects, carpenters continue to be in demand in repair and remodeling work. Specifically, the markets which are most promising for these skilled workers are Residential building with the rise in housing plans, as well as commercial carpentry. In 2006 alone, carpenters held approximately 1.5 million jobs.



Some factors attributed to the high demand for Carpentry and Construction technicians include the imminent high rate of retirement of workers in the coming years and the comparatively smaller number of people with the right carpentry and construction qualifications getting into the industry. It is actually being forecast that the number of salary jobs in the construction industry will continue to grow by an average of 11 percent until 2014.

As the construction industry maintains its competitiveness, more training programs are being offered by vocational and technical institutions. People who would like to make themselves more valued employees can do so by earning an associate degree in carpentry and construction technology in less than two years.

Carpentry involves a variety of work from blueprint reading, cutting and sizing wood and other construction materials, installing drywall and windows, roof framing, laying floors, making cabinets and building stairs among many others.

Due to the nature of their job, well-rounded carpenters who can work in remodeling and residential and commercial construction with ease have a greater potential for advancement. More than all the workers involved in construction, the carpenters utilize the highest number of hand tools ranging from the hammer, chisel, sanders as well as power tools such as saws and electric drills.

Although carpentry skills can be gained while doing actual work, there are now vocational schools that offer formal training and apprenticeships on this field. Employers want an employee who can come to work already equipped with the carpentry skills he or she needs to have to do a good job. Additionally, most employers prefer to hire carpenters who have undergone apprenticeship because of the extensive training it provides. Some even give weight to previous experience in the military service.

Carpenters who want to land in an entry-level job are not necessarily required to have college education. High school graduates with the right skills, notably in mathematics and problem solving, good eye and hand coordination as well as physically fitness can are more likely to be qualified to start working.

However, before one is considered as a skilled carpenter, several years of formal education and hands-on training through apprenticeship are vital.

The proper instruction and basic training can be gained from accredited vocational and technical schools as well as from online programs. A course in carpentry and construction technology normally combines classroom lecture and practical or on-the-job training.

With the right knowledge and skills, any carpenter can outshine other applicants for the job and has a bigger opportunity to start work at a higher level compared to those with no formal training. As they gain experience, they can later advance to the position of either carpentry supervisor or general construction supervisor.

Construction projects show no sign of stopping in the future. Whether there's a global financial crisis or not, structures from houses to commercial buildings, roads to bridges will always be built. Carpenters who have good experience and are capable of performing different tasks have a bright future ahead of them.