Carpentry

The outlook for carpentry careers is very positive. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, carpenter employment opportunities are projected to grow 8 percent from 2018 to 2028 – that's above the average for all occupations. With the pace of new home builds as well as renovation and remodeling projects, trained carpenters can look forward to a rosy job picture for some years to come. And, there are a number of opportunities for carpenters to specialize – restoration, building conversions, interior design, among others.

For years, the School's Carpentry programs had relied on a 2008 Dodge van to transport materials and tools to work sites. Offsite projects are an essential component of the curriculum, and reliable transportation is a must. After years of service, it was time to upgrade to a newer model – but cost and scarcity of the right model posed significant challenges. With generous funding from private foundations, NBSS was able to find and purchase a new van outright. The entire School will make use of the new van, and it is an especially valuable resource for the Carpentry program.

NBSS Preservation Carpentry students craft hand-built sheds each fall as part of their first-year curriculum, to practice basic construction techniques. You can own one of this year's sheds – there are two available for purchase now! Find out more details here.

Perhaps one of the more misunderstood aspects of trades, particularly in carpentry, is the precision it takes to realize accurate and functional results. This is highlighted when taking on projects like stair building, which may seem deceptively easy to the untrained eye but is in fact somewhat complex. Read more about this annual student project from recent Carpentry graduate Amanda Gray CA '19.

In recent years, there has been an uptick in programs encouraging women to change their perception of the trades. These new and expanded strategies are an effort to help women see what was once a male-dominated industry as a viable career option. We explore the changing landscape of the building trades in this series – while also celebrating some of the talented women who began their careers at NBSS and are making an impact in their fields.

Before becoming enrolling in the NBSS Carpentry program, Michelle Her CA '18 worked as a United States Navy Seabee (Naval Construction Force), building gun ranges, warehouses, schools, and pavilions. Today, Michelle works as a carpenter for Columbia Contracting, performing the majority of her work in greater Boston. Meet another tradeswoman featured in our Women in the Building Trades series.