Saskatchewan JobFutures

Nature of Work

Carpenters construct, erect, install, maintain and repair structures and components of structures made of wood, wood-substitutes and other materials. They are employed by construction companies, carpentry contractors, maintenance departments of factories, plants and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.

Nature of Work

Carpenters construct, erect, install, maintain and repair structures and components of structures made of wood, wood-substitutes and other materials. They are employed by construction companies, carpentry contractors, maintenance departments of factories, plants and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.

Duties

Carpentry duties include reading and interpreting blueprints, drawings and sketches to determine specifications and to calculate requirements. Other duties include using measuring tools to prepare layouts in conformance to building codes, and measuring, cutting, shaping, assembling and joining materials made of wood, wood substitutes and other materials.

Carpenters build foundations, install floor beams, lay subflooring and erect walls and roof systems. They also fit and install trim items, such as doors, stairs, moulding and hardware, and maintain, repair and renovate residences and wooden structures in mills, mines, hospitals, industrial plants and other establishments. Some carpenters supervise apprentices and other construction workers and prepare cost estimates for clients.

Example Titles

• journeyman/woman carpenter
• carpenter
• rough carpenter
• renovation carpenter
• maintenance carpenter
• finish carpenter
• apprentice carpenter

Training Paths

Carpenter is a designated trade in Saskatchewan. Individuals wishing to become certified in this trade must apprentice for four years under a certified tradesperson and complete 28 weeks of in-class technical training. Training in Saskatchewan is delivered through SIAST. Individuals can specialize as either a Scaffolder or a Framer. Applicants to the Carpenter apprenticeship program must be currently working in the field. High school completion will ensure academic entrance requirements are met. Individuals who have not completed high school should contact the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission. Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology (SIIT) offers a Construction Worker Preparation certificate program and the level one apprenticeship program. Pre-employment carpentry courses are offered through SIAST and regional colleges.

Trends and Outlooks

The employment prospects for this occupation are: good

Saskatchewan is home to a lot of carpenters. According to Statistics Canada there were more than 4,700 carpenters working in the province in 2005. This marks an overall increase of 4% from 2000; or close to 200 new jobs in five years. Full-time employment for carpenters increased by nearly 30% during this same period. Even if this upward trend does not continue, qualified job seekers can expect numerous opportunities over the next few years. As with any occupation this large, there will always be job openings each year due to attrition (i.e. retirement or other turnover). In 2006, 44% of all Saskatchewan carpenters were 45 years of age or older. As many of these older workers retire, positions will become available and the demand will increase for qualified younger carpenters.

Many Saskatchewan carpenters are not highly paid. This is another factor that contributes to job openings due to turnover. In 2005, the average full-time income for this occupation was $34,600 per year, well below the provincial full-time average for all occupations the same year ($42,300 per year). Annual incomes in Saskatchewan for paid (as opposed to self-employed) carpenters ranged from $11,600 to $60,200 per year in 2005. Many self-employed carpenters earned considerably more (or less) than the average that same year. Carpenters in Regina and Saskatoon typically earn more than their counterparts elsewhere in the province.

According to the Census, less than 2% of the province's carpenters were female in 2006. That same year, employment for carpenters in Saskatchewan was distributed evenly throughout the province; 38% of all carpenters in the province worked in or around Saskatoon or Regina in 2006.

There is a high incidence of part-time employment in this field of work; just 51% of all carpenters in the province were employed on a full-time basis in 2005. In 2005, just under 25% of all carpenters in the province were self-employed. This marks a significant drop off from 2000, due in a large part to increased demand among larger employers. Employment for carpenters is highly seasonal and very sensitive to overall economic conditions. Skill requirements for carpenters can change from job to job. As well, many in this field of work must occasionally upgrade their skills either to use new tools and technologies or to practise new methods of construction.

Professional Associations

Related Occupations

• Cabinetmakers (7272)
• Supervisors of carpenters (in 7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades)