As well as being construction’s oldest trade specialism, carpentry is generally considered one of the world’s earliest-known professions. 

While the industry has moved on a fair bit since its ancient roots, carpenters continue to hold a vital role in the construction industry, with their skills regularly in high demand across both domestic and commercial projects. 

Last year, recruitment firm Approach Personnel combined job board data to predict the most in-demand construction trades for 2025. Carpentry emerged as one of the standout industries, with more than 4,700 vacancies advertised at the time. 

What is driving demand for carpenters? 

Back in March, the UK government unveiled plans to train a new generation of tradespeople who would be integral to its plans to build 1.5 million new homes within the current parliament. 

As part of the announcement, Chancellor, Rachel Reeves cited a shortage of ‘engineers, brickies, sparkies, and chippies’ that would need to be urgently tackled, suggesting that those ready to step into these roles would be doing so in a strong position. 

Alongside Labour’s significant residential building plans, other major commercial construction projects, such as HS2 and the Lower Thames crossing, will almost certainly present plenty of exciting opportunities for skilled carpenters. 

Interestingly, particularly in terms of ‘traditional’ carpentry skill sets, the government has also confirmed it would increasingly turn to timber as a low-carbon construction resource. In the new Timber in Construction (TiC) Roadmap, Labour explains how the material will be essential to its homebuilding targets, again, indicating further growth in demand for carpenters. 

Domestic demand 

The domestic market also looks healthy for carpenters, particularly when it comes to home renovation projects. In Aviva’s latest How We Live report, almost seven million UK homeowners said they planned to renovate their homes this year, and intend to spend on average more than £14,000 on such projects over the next two years.

Will carpenters always be in high demand? 

Carpentry has always been, and continues to be, a fundamental element of most construction projects. From initial building foundations through to finishing touches and furnishing, carpenters’ skill sets are crucial throughout. 

Like any trade, there will be a need for carpenters to grow and adapt their services as building trends shift and evolve. However, the core skill set, as the industry’s longevity has proven, will seemingly always be sought after. 

For those considering a career in carpentry, Able Skills offers a range of expert-led courses to suit all levels of experience. This includes a package that could take you from complete beginner to NVQ Level 2 qualified in just ten weeks. You can find more information about all of our carpentry courses online here.