Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Supervisors in the carpentry trades oversee the work of carpenters and cabinetmakers:
They may work for:
- Construction companies, carpentry contractors, maintenance departments of industrial establishments, and custom furniture and fixture manufacturing or repair companies
- Contractors may own and operate their own carpentry-related businesses
Job Titles
Duties
In general, contractors and supervisors in the carpentry trades:
- Supervise and co-ordinate the activities of carpenters and cabinetmakers
- Set up schedules and co-ordinate work with other departments
- Order materials
- Solve work problems and recommend ways to improve productivity
- Train or arrange training for workers
- Determine or provide input into hirings and promotions
- Enforce safety standards
- Prepare reports and paperwork
- They may also supervise and co-ordinate the activities of apprentices, helpers and labourers. In addition, those who are self-employed manage their company’s operations
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
3,140% Employed Full Time
64%Supervisors in the carpentry trades work for construction companies, carpentry contractors and maintenance departments in industry. They also work for custom furniture and fixture manufacturing and repair companies. Contractors own and operate their own carpentry-related businesses.
Supervisors and contractors usually work in offices and workshops. They visit indoor and outdoor job sites in residential, commercial and industrial settings. Work areas can be noisy and dusty, with loud machinery and tools as well as fumes from chemical products.
Because less carpentry work is available in the winter, contractors and supervisors in many areas of B.C. tend to be busier from spring through fall.
Career Pathways
Workers in carpentry often move between various jobs within the trade. Movement between trades, however, is less common.
Experienced supervisors may go on to become self-employed contractors.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Contractors and supervisors in the carpentry trades usually need a high school diploma and several years of experience as a carpenter or cabinetmaker. Most also need journey-level trade certification.
Visit SkilledTradesBC for information on certification requirements for carpenters and cabinetmakers in British Columbia. Also, review the career profiles for carpenters and cabinetmakers to learn about these requirements.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Carpentry/Joinery
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Motivating, developing and directing people as they work, and identifying the best people for the job.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Teaching others how to do something.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
3,140Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 100 | 3.2% |
| Kootenay | 125 | 4.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,720 | 54.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 1.0% |
| Northeast | 40 | 1.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 465 | 14.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 665 | 21.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,450Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 30 | 0.4% |
| Kootenay | 40 | 0.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 910 | 2.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | -2.0% |
| Northeast | 50 | 2.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 210 | 1.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 210 | 0.4% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Construction | 1,370 |
| Manufacturing | 40 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 10 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 10 |
| Retail Trade | 10 |
Insights from Industry
Demand for carpentry work relies on growth in the construction industry and any slowdown in residential construction reduces opportunities for supervisors and contractors.
New technologies, such as computer-controlled equipment and computer-based systems for design, estimating and cost control, are increasing productivity in the trades. So are new, more efficient methods, such as pre-manufactured cabinets and fixtures.
Being able to see the results of this work can make being a part of the carpentry trades a very rewarding career.
Resources
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Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association (AWMAC), B.C. Chapterbc.awmac.com
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British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA)www.bccassn.com
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British Columbia Regional Council of Carpenters (BCRCC)bcrcc.ca
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BuildForce Canadawww.buildforce.ca/en
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Canadian Home Builders' Association of British Columbia (CHBA BC) - Continuing Educationeducation.chbabc.org/home.php
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Careers in Constructionwww.careersinconstruction.ca
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Construction Industry Training Network (CITN)trainingnetwork.ca
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Construction Labour Relations Association (CLR) of BCwww.clra-bc.com
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Construction Maintenance and Allied Workers Canadawww.cmaw.ca
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Homebuilders Association Vancouver (HAVAN)havan.ca
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Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA)www.icba.ca
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Red Seal Programwww.red-seal.ca/eng/welcome.shtml
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Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP)www.stepbc.ca
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SkilledTradesBCskilledtradesbc.ca/
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Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA)vrca.ca
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WorkBC Trades Trainingnumber41media1.gathercontent.com/item/12593104
