Campaign begins to promote careers in woodworking industry

The Wood Industry Resource Collaborative has launched a career awareness campaign to attract new talent.

“Companies in the industry are still struggling to find skilled workers as they grow to meet demand. We are excited to launch this campaign as a way to increase awareness and to expand the pool of candidates for our future workforce,” says Fred Stringfellow, CEO of the Wood Machinery Manufacturers Association, a member of WIRC’s Executive Committee with the Association of Woodworking & Furniture Suppliers and Wood Manufacturing Industry Association.

“This campaign is the culmination of over three years of communication, research and hard work,” added Stringfellow.

The campaign’s website, youwood.com, has links to educational resources, such as schools and scholarships, profiles of industry positions (woodworkers, CAD operators, finishers, etc.), and generally makes the case that the wood industry is vibrant, growing and essential.

The campaign is directed at high school students and young adults seeking a career change, including military veterans. WIRC conducted a survey of these audiences in early 2020 and found that over 70 percent of all respondents had no awareness of wood industry careers, but 23 percent would consider one.

For more, visit www.youwood.com. 

This article was originally published in the March 2021 issue.