Denmark grapples with apprenticeship shortage for aspiring carpenters despite rising interest in vocational education

Denmark is grappling with an unexpected challenge in its efforts to attract more young people to vocational education: a shortage of apprenticeships for aspiring carpenters. The problem is particularly acute at EUC Nord in Hjørring and Tech College in Aalborg. In Hjørring, 49 students are currently without an apprenticeship, while in Aalborg, 30% of the large class of carpentry students are still searching for placements.

“We have too many students who don’t have an apprenticeship, and it’s a problem when we’re going to be short of skilled workers in the future,” says Jakob Pilgaard, the head of education at Tech College. He predicts that there will be a significant shortfall in the number of carpenters and other skilled workers across the country by 2030, potentially reaching up to 100,000.

The construction industry is also aware of this issue. “It’s a huge challenge that we have young people who we can’t place in an apprenticeship when we know that we’re going to need these young people in the construction industry in the future,” says Michael Jørgensen, director of NCO Byg in Aars and chairman of the Danish Industry Construction in North Jutland.

The industry recognizes the irony of the situation. After years of efforts to attract more people to the profession, they now face the issue of not being able to provide enough apprenticeships for those who have chosen to pursue carpentry. Jørgensen suggests that a decrease in the number of tasks in the order books of companies may partly explain why some firms are not taking on apprentices.

Both EUC Nord and Tech College are frustrated about the current situation, as they believe learning on the job at a company cannot be replicated in a school setting. Jørgensen, who runs his own construction company, admits that the industry is struggling to meet this ambition. He hopes that employers will take on more apprentices to ensure the future demand for skilled carpenters can be met. This sentiment is shared by Tech College, which is actively engaging in discussions with local carpentry masters to find a solution to their common problem.