Ɣ How to become a carpenter or joinerCarpenters work on-site constructing large and small buildings, and repairing and installing structures such as foundations, walls, roofs, windows and doors.

Joiners measure, cut, prepare and assemble timber and timber board products to make interior fittings such as kitchen cabinets, shop fittings, laminate bench tops, timber doors, window frames, and stairs.

Qualifications

There is no entry requirement to work as a carpenter. However, employers are increasingly looking for people with (or willing to work towards) a National Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4), which is mainly done as part of an apprenticeship.

The National Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4) typically takes about four years. This qualification, or its equivalent, is a prerequisite to become a licensed carpenter under the Government’s “streamline” licensed building practitioner process. However, it is still possible to become a licensed building practitioner without being qualified. This is done by undergoing a more extensive assessment.

Although other qualifications and other licence classes are avail-able in specialised building areas (for example, roofing, and brick & block-laying), licensed carpenters are able to work across a wider range of building tasks without supervision.

For joinery there is no entry requirement to start the qualification. However, employers are increasingly looking for those who have at least NCEA Level 2 to enter into the trade (entry can be through a pre-trade Level 2-3 joinery qualification).

Alternatively, a common pathway is to complete a Level 4 qualifica-tion, then gain employment with a joinery company that offers an apprenticeship. More commonly, a three-to-four-year apprentice-ship is offered to gain the qualification while working.

You may wish to apply for an Apprenticeship Re-Boot Subsidy, which provides $2,000 towards tools and off-job course costs for carpentry and joinery apprentices. More information, including eligibility criteria, is available on the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) website.

As of 1 January 2014, New Zealand’s current apprenticeship scheme will be replaced by a new scheme called New Zealand Apprentice-ships. This will be available for anyone over the age of 16. The New Zealand Apprenticeship scheme is subsidised by the government. More information on the scheme is on the Tertiary Education Com-mission (TEC) website.

→ TEC: www.tec.govt.nz/learners-organisations/learners/learn-about/apprenticeships

Cost of study

National Certificate in Carpentry(Level 4)(Apprenticeship)

National Certificate in Joinery –Craftsperson (Level 4) (Apprenticeship)

$3,400–$4,300 over 4 years

$3,400–$4,300 over 4 years

Average costs in 2013 for a domestic student. Costs vary between institutions. Some polytechnics may have a zero-fees scheme. Further costs include materials, textbooks, and accommodation.

The least expensive way to train as a carpenter or joiner is to become an apprentice. If you become an apprentice you can earn while gaining a qualification.

Rents vary from place to place. Estimated market rents by region, city and suburb are available on the MBIE Building and Housing website.

The StudyLink website provides general budget advice for stu-dents, and the Sorted website provides help with detailed budget planning.

→ MBIE Building and Housing: www.dbh.govt.nz/market-rent

→ StudyLink: www.studylink.govt.nz

→ Sorted: www.sorted.org.nz/calculators/money-planner

Where to study

Apprenticeship training is arranged nationwide by the Building and Construction ITO (BCITO) and the Joinery ITO (JITO). The Industry Training Association for Building (ITaB) operates its own scheme of managed apprenticeships through a few polytechnics around New Zealand.

Pre-trade Level 2-3 joinery qualifications are offered at the Christch-urch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) and the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT); SIT charges zero fees.

→ BCITO: www.bcito.org.nz/apprentices

→ JITO: www.jito.org.nz/web/page.php?n=14

→ ITaB: www.itab.co.nz

Licensing

Carpenters with appropriate qualifications or experience can apply to become licensed building practitioners, through the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. Licensing may be approved once an assessor has reviewed the application, called referees about prior work history, and conducted a phone interview with the applicant.

Joiners are not licensed.

CARPENTERS AND JOINERS

JOB PROSPECTS There should be a big increase in demand for carpenters and joiners in the next few years because of the Canterbury rebuild and an increase in house building in Auckland. Outside of Auckland and Christchurch, more normal vacancy levels are expected.

JOB PROSPECTS

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At a glance

CONSTRUCTION & INFRASTRUCTURE

ELECTrICIanS

→ MBIE Building and Housing: www.business.govt.nz/lbp

Completed qualifications

In July 2012 there were 13,469 licensed carpenters across NZ.

The number of students completing carpentry and joinery qualifica-tions in BCITO and JITO has grown over the last 6 years from 1,013 in 2006 to 1,696 in 2012 (up 67%). However, the number has fallen since 2010.

Source: BCITO, JITO

Ɣ Income and employment prospectsIncome

In 2013, the average income for carpenters and joiners was esti-mated to be $46,400. Carpentry and joinery apprentices are likely to enter the trade on the training wage or on the minimum wage.

Estimated average income

$46,400

Average income from Statistics New Zealand’s June 2013 New Zealand Income Survey. Estimated from average hourly earnings.

Graduates with Certificate Level 4 qualifications in building earned $28,500 one year after their study ended. After five years, income had increased to $39,700.

Median earnings after qualification completion

One year Two years Five years

$28,500 $31,000 $39,700

Source: Ministry of Education

Employment and skill shortages

Carpenters and joiners’ employment

Current Projected growth*

June 2012 June 2013 2011–16 2016–21

13,450 13,130down 2.4%

2.4%per year

1.7%per year

*Growth projections are for the broader category “Bricklayers, Carpenters and Joiners”.

Over the next decade, we expect that there will be strong demand for carpenters and joiners in Canterbury due to the rebuild. Nationally, earthquake-strengthening work and leaky building repairs should see an expected 2.4% annual growth in employment until 2016.

Carpenters and joiners are on Immigration New Zealand’s Can-terbury skill shortage list. If a job appears on the list, it means the government is actively encouraging skilled people in the role to come and work in Canterbury. A full list is available on the Immigra-tion New Zealand website.

→ Immigration nZ, skill shortage list: www.immigration.govt.nz/essentialskills

Work in the construction industry is strongly affected by economic conditions. The graph below shows that employment in carpentry and joinery grew during the “boom” period before 2008. From 2008 onwards, carpentry employment fell, mainly due to fewer houses being built during the recession. However, there are signs of a recent upturn.

02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,00016,00018,00020,000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Employment

Source: MBIE estimates

Where to find job vacancies

The number of online job vacancies for carpenters and joiners increased by 113% from June 2012 to June 2013. This compares with an overall increase of 1.5% for all skilled vacancies over the same period.

Carpenter and joiner vacancies are advertised through public media such as the Trade Me Jobs and Seek websites.

→ Trade Me Jobs: www.trademe.co.nz/jobs

→ Seek: www.seek.co.nz

Career path

After several years of experience, many carpenters become build-ing contractors, running their own businesses. Building contractors may plan, supervise or work on the construction and alteration of buildings.

Carpenters may also specialise in a specific field, for instance boat building, cabinet making or furniture building.

Many joiners also establish their own businesses.

BCITO provides an overview of the potential career path of some-one starting out in carpentry.

→ BCITO, Career progression: www.bcito.org.nz/get-career/career-options

Ɣ Other informationLinks

More information on carpenters and joiners is available on the Careers New Zealand website.

→ Careers new Zealand: www.careers.govt.nz

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