The case in summary: The wood industry in Norway believes there is an urgent need for newly qualified carpenters. Carpentry is on the top ten list of professions with the greatest labor shortage, according to Nav. Anna Regine Vada Blom, a 23-year-old carpenter, works to get more people into the industry by being a carpentry ambassador. The Association of Norwegian Wood Products believes that there must be more practical subjects in primary school in order to increase interest in vocational subjects. Last year, there were only six schools in the whole of Norway that had a woodwork line with students. Education Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun has submitted a parliamentary report for more practical learning in school. At Rovde Møbel & Design in Vanylven, Anna Regine Vada Blom creates interiors for ships, businesses and homes. The 23-year-old wants more people to get an eye out for the carpentry profession. – I didn’t think about it being an offer, to be completely honest. One had to take a study specialization, that’s what everyone did. There wasn’t as much focus on vocational subjects as I would have liked. Anna Regine Vada Blom likes working with ship interiors the most. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news – We hardly have access to carpentry training Carpentry is on the top ten list of professions with the greatest shortage of labour, according to Nav. And Norway may lack almost 90,000 skilled workers in 2035, figures from Statistics Norway show. Even though more and more young people are skilled in the trades, the wood products industry is facing a skilled worker crisis, believes the association Norske Trevarer. – The need for newly qualified carpenters is acute, and has been for a long time, says daily manager, Hilde Widerøe Wibe. – We are facing a big challenge, says daily manager of Norske trevarer, Hilde Widerøe Wibe. They represent around 300 companies. Photo: PRIVAT She says the companies have a high average age of their employees, and that it is a big challenge to get carpenters with competence. – Our companies are spread all over the country, but we hardly have access to carpentry training. It is the exception rather than the rule. The carpentry trade builds on level 1 building and construction technology and level 2 wood technology, before starting an apprenticeship. Last year, there were only six schools in the whole country that had a woodwork line with students. In Møre and Romsdal, they have tried to start this line at Romsdal secondary school, in Ørsta and in Tingvoll, but they have not received enough applicants. – Unfortunately, we do not have enough students to cover the great need for skills in working life, and that challenge will probably only get bigger in the future, says head of skills Kariann D. Flovikholm. Competence manager in Møre and Romsdal county municipality, Kariann D. Flovikholm. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news – The development is alarming According to Norwegian wood goods, one cannot only look at the offer in the secondary school. Already in primary school, there must be more practical subjects. On Friday last week, the government came up with the youth message, which should provide a more practical school day. Hilde Widerøe Wibe in Norske Trevarer is not impressed. She believes that the amount of money from the government is not sufficient, and that the role of the sled in the school has been overlooked. – We are about to have a generation of practical illiterates. We see that even the apprentices who come in now have less practical experience with them than they have had in the past. The trend is alarming. Anna started the milling machine. – It is a very varied working day. Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news Willing to recruit more It was not a given that the Sunnmøring from Rovde would become a sneaker, as she was one of those who chose to specialize in further studies. But a one-day visit to the factory gave her a great sense of mastery and a desire for more. – It is a very varied working day. Everything from drawing what will be in production, milling, assembly, packing and sending out to customers. Since then, Anna Regine Vada Blom has become apprentice of the year in the wood products industry, and production manager in the company. Anna Regine Vada Blom tries to recruit at career days in Ørsta. Photo: Training office for building trades Now the 23-year-old wants to make it easier for others to choose education within the carpentry trade. Since she didn’t do a vocational course herself, and had to spend a little longer as an apprentice. – I think it’s important because I got in the wrong way, if you can say it that way. Now that I know how fun the profession is, I want to help people find out a little earlier than I did. Today, she is also one of eight sniper ambassadors in Norway. They post their daily routine on social media to try to reach out to young people. In addition, they participate in career days and school visits. – It seems that many are getting an eye out for the carpentry trade and learning things they didn’t know. Mayor of Vanylven Paul Sindre Vedeld (Sp). Photo: Hans-Olav Landsverk / news I think the school is too theory-heavy Paul Sindre Vedeld was the day-to-day manager of the company until he became Center Party mayor in the municipality last year. He cheers the work of the sniper ambassador. – We have to show the pupils that the carpentry profession is not just about working with a hammer. It is a highly skilled profession and extensive use of computer technology. Minister of Education Kari Nessa Nordtun. Photo: Mats Rønning Minister of Education Kari Nessa Nordtun (Ap) believes there is no doubt that the school has been too sedentary and heavy on theory in recent years. – On Friday, I submitted a parliamentary report for more practical learning in school. This means more practical teaching in all subjects. More equipment, better premises and better frameworks for the teachers so they can plan the school day as they think is best for their pupils. Read the answer from Education Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun here: What is the government doing to have a more practical school day? There is no doubt that the school has been too sedentary and theory-heavy in recent years and we are doing something about this. We must have a school day that is more practical, varied and active, because we know this gives the pupils more motivation and more learning. Sløyd is something that provides good opportunities for practical learning. That is why this year we have created an equipment pool of 127 million, where the municipalities can apply for money for more practical equipment. Next year we will increase this pot to NOK 160 million. This year, as many as 328 out of 357 municipalities applied for this scheme, so this has been long awaited. In addition, this year we have introduced a new compensation scheme for investments in premises and equipment in the school, such as for example halls and school kitchens. We know that one of our biggest societal challenges going forward is that we will lack people in many industries, while at the same time we will have fewer and fewer people of working age. Therefore, the government legislated from 1 August that great emphasis must be placed on society’s need for competence when the county councils plan the offer in further education. Published 17.09.2024, at 08.51
ttn-69
Great shortage of carpenters – Anna Regine Vada Blom in Vanylven will inspire more – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
