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Not finding qualified employees

6/29/26

Mathias

Member

Website: Woodworkfranzreb.com

Hello,
I am a one man shop in North Georgia. I am originally from Germany and learned the trade over there. Since 17 years I am doing this, have my business since 6 years and now since 8 months I am trying to hire someone .
But not one lasts more then 6 weeks. They have all other excuses or not because they just don't show up anymore.
I want to pay a livable wage, but also I want to pay based on there knowledge. I feel like there is a gap between people think they know how to be a woodworker and people who actually know it. Most think because they worked in construction for 2 years they are very good joiner/woodworker.
I haven't met a person who came to the shop and is able to use a sliding table saw, shaper or edgebander.
They all come into the shop and are surprised by the machinery. All of them never have seen them before but claim to be a woodworker.

I posted my position on various platforms and offer:
- 8 days of holiday a year
- 10 days of PTO and each year they earn 1 day more
- After 6 month company work cloth
- pay range is between 15-30 dollar an hour.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to figure out if I can offer healthcare yet.

Everyone who claims has some experience want to earn immediately between 25 dollar an hour but when they show up in the shop they are not able to do anything and expect me to tell them every small step.
I got told before that a laborer job shouldn't be that complicated, they want to feel appreciated for every small task they do. Even when I start with someone who has no knowledge, and pay him 17 an hour they just can't handle the work.

I invested so much time explaining the machines, how to use the hand tools and explaining what we do but no one understands the concept.
As an example, it took one person 35 minutes to cut a back for a cabinet on the sliding table saw.

Am I alone in this or is it everywhere like this.

How can I find someone who can actually think for them self and see details. People who are able to figure stuff out. I feel like I have to explain even the simplest tasks. And when I see how much money they cost and not getting work done I am questioning why to actually hire someone. But then I need help because I am getting larger projects.

I feel like the only way to hire someone is to really lower the standard of my work but I can't to that.

How are you guys finding people with potential

All jobs in our area pay between 13 to 20 dollar an hour. I thought when I raise it to 30 dollar then one or two skilled people would maybe apply.but so far I haven't met one skilled woodworker.

I am still learning and open for any advice.

https://www.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=cabinet+maker&l=Ellijay%2C+GA&radius=25&from=searchOnSerp&sameL=1&vjk=45eacbccf84f68c4

7/1/26 #2: Not finding qualified employees ...

Tom Gardiner

This is not a short term solution. I had good luck with taking co-op students from high school in my shop. They came with not much shop experience but I was able to teach them what to do quickly and it was a positive experience for all but one or two.
It is relatively risk free for the employer because the schools generally cover the insurance and there is no salary. The benefit to you might be you get a student who will work out and will work summers or part time leading to full time.

7/1/26 #3: Not finding qualified employees ...

Karl E Brogger

One of my guys is retiring out this week, and I've no clue how to replace him and he's the lowest skilled in the shop.

We do have a couple of trade schools that have a two year cabinet program. I was kicking around contacting them, and seeing about doing some sort of tuition reimbursement. Make it 3 years at my shop and I'll pay for all of your schooling.
I don't offer insurance, but my lowest paid guy makes $27/hr. Top is making $34/hr. I think he started this year with 120hrs of PTO and we're off all the usual holidays paid.

I don't think this is a hard job. It does require some skill and knowledge, but it isn't rocket science or back breaking. But man is it hard to find people that want to pursue this kind of work.

I'm not even sure where to post for jobs. If tomorrow I wanted a job in a cabinet shop, I'd just Google Cabinet shops in my area and go visit them. I'd want to see the facility, see the faces on the shop floor to get a feel for things before filling out an application. I've only had one person wander in doing that and it surprises me.

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