Commencement of training in 2025: excelling in woodwork requires skill
The German Saw and Wood Industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers, with many companies reporting unfilled positions and a decreasing number of applicants for training positions. To combat this issue, the German Saw and Wood Industry Association has launched the "Timber Talents" campaign.
The campaign aims to attract young talent to the industry by promoting training opportunities and initiatives. Key elements of the campaign include organizing or promoting apprenticeships and vocational training related to the wood industry, encouraging research and practical projects in timber construction, and supporting sustainability and innovation in the wood sector through competitions and awards.
Companies like ZÜBLIN Timber are actively participating in the campaign, offering apprenticeships for vocations such as carpentry, industrial mechanics, industrial clerks, and draftsmen within timber companies. The campaign also fosters interest in wood construction and sustainable timber use, encouraged through design competitions and university awards that promote innovative timber construction ideas and practical application of wood engineering principles.
Through such awards and collaborative projects, students and young professionals gain hands-on experience and exposure to modern timber engineering and sustainable forestry, bridging academic study with real-world applications.
The sawmill and wood industry continues to invest in modern workplaces, digitization, and further training to offer apprentices the best possible conditions. The training year for the sawmill and wood industry in Germany began on August 1, 2025, and training opportunities include technical, craft, commercial, IT-related, energy, and process optimization professions.
According to DeSH Managing Director Lars Schmidt, those who choose an apprenticeship in the sawmill and wood industry will gain comprehensive technical knowledge and become part of a climate-friendly industry with high innovation potential. Schmidt emphasizes that the "Timber Talents" campaign consistently promotes career entry and accompanies apprentices through their training with the "Woodbook" app.
The "Timber Talents" campaign is a response to the growing challenges in attracting young talent to the sawmill and wood industry, which is further complicated by societal prejudices and a decreasing number of applicants. The sawmill and wood industry in Germany is one of the most diverse and sustainable industries in the country.
The German Saw and Wood Industry Association can be contacted via the Lobby Register Number R000346. For a comprehensive overview of training professions and open positions in the sawmill and wood industry, visit www.timbertalents.de. Schmidt urges the need to show young people practical paths into the profession through initiatives like internships, school cooperation, or digital information offers.
By fostering a qualified workforce through initiatives like the "Timber Talents" campaign, the German Saw and Wood Industry is ensuring a sustainable and innovative future for the industry. As Schmidt says, young professionals who start today will take on responsibility tomorrow for the sustainable development of the industry.
The campaign, "Timber Talents", is designed to attract young individuals to the sawmill and wood industry by promoting various training opportunities in areas like carpentry, mechanics, clerkwork, drafting, and more. Students and professionals can gain practical experience through design competitions and university awards, bridging academic study with real-world applications.
Taking a step towards education and self-development, young talent can choose an apprenticeship in the home-and-garden sector, with the German Saw and Wood Industry offering a diverse range of training positions in technical, craft, commercial, IT-related, energy, and process optimization professions. This lifestyle choice promises comprehensive technical knowledge and a career in a climate-friendly, innovative industry.
