Carpenter shortage in Norway prompts new initiatives to attract talent

The timber industry in Norway is experiencing an acute shortage of newly trained carpenters, ranking among the top ten professions with the greatest labor shortages, according to the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration (NAV). Anna Regine Vada Blom, a 23-year-old carpenter, is actively working to attract more individuals to the profession by serving as a carpenter ambassador. The association representing Norwegian timber products emphasizes the necessity of increasing practical subjects in schools to boost interest in vocational training. Last year, only six schools in Norway offered a timber technology program with students enrolled.

In her role at Rovde Møbel & Design in Vanylven, Blom focuses on outfitting ships, businesses, and homes. She recalls not realizing carpentry was an option and stresses the need for more emphasis on vocational education. The timber industry faces a potential shortfall of nearly 90,000 skilled workers by 2035, according to Statistics Norway.

Hilde Widerøe Wibe, the managing director of the Norwegian Timber Association, highlights the aging workforce and the scarcity of qualified carpenters as major challenges. Efforts to establish timber technology programs in various regions have not generated sufficient interest.

Further, the association criticizes current offerings in secondary education and calls for more practical subjects to be integrated into the curriculum, starting from basic education levels. The recent government proposal for more hands-on learning in schools has drawn mixed responses. Widerøe Wibe believes the government funding is inadequate, cautioning that the nation risks producing a generation with minimal practical skills.

Blom, who initially chose a general studies track, wants to simplify the pathway into carpentry for others. As one of eight carpenter ambassadors in Norway, she aims to inspire youth through social media and school visits, promoting the profession’s diverse and rewarding nature.