Slim pickings

Author:: David DeCristoforo
Publish date:: Mar 21, 2018

Current stats show a very low unemployment level across the country. This is a good thing. People have jobs. Our economy cannot be strong without people working.

However, this does not necessarily translate into more work for woodworkers and cabinetmakers. With costs soaring and materials becoming harder to get, our prices cannot be lowered enough to make them affordable to people earning minimum wage.

Another thing I notice is that having someone walk into the shop looking for work is becoming a rare event. In the past, there would be an almost constant stream of people asking for work. We didn’t need to run help wanted ads. Now, it’s harder to find good help because the people who used to be seeking work are busy washing dishes or stocking shelves.

I guess every silver lining has its cloud.

This Business About Woodworking

It’s not unusual or unreasonable for people to want something unique. We are not all the same and that’s a good thing.

This Business About Woodworking

Woodworking is high on the list of industries that are experiencing a shortage of skilled employees. With unemployment rates at the lowest level in decades and wages at their highest, the lack of skilled people is becoming more and more obvious.

This Business About Woodworking

I have a lot of pieces of wood that are too good to throw away but too small to really be useful. We sometimes call pieces like this scrap, but I have always maintained that there is no such thing as scrap.

This Business About Woodworking

I have tried to avoid discussing anything political here. This is supposed to be about running a shop. But completely separating business and politics is like separating the cart and the horse.

This Business About Woodworking

I have always tried to pay a living wage. The actual dollar amount is irrelevant because a living wage can vary dramatically depending on where your business is located.

This Business About Woodworking

I saw an article the other day about home prices. This particular home was in Sunnyvale, Calif., and sold for over $2,000 a square foot. Yes, this was a record.

This Business About Woodworking

I’ve been getting more and more frustrated in my attempts to find people who know how to work.

This Business About Woodworking

When is it good enough? I am at a stage in life where most people would consider me to be a master. And you’d think, at this point, I have little left to learn.

This Business About Woodworking