There is a shortage of skilled furniture finishers, as many experienced furniture finishers take their skills overseas or move into higher-paying jobs that use similar skills, such as boat building or joinery. The job appears on Immigration New Zealand's long-term skill shortage list, which means the Government is actively encouraging skilled furniture finishers from overseas to work in New Zealand.
The number of people working as furniture finishers has dropped since 2001, contributing to the shortage of workers. The number of furniture finishers is expected to keep falling – partly because workers move into different jobs, and partly because the industry itself is in decline.
Number of furniture finishers employed in New Zealand
(1996, 2001, 2006)| Census | Number of furniture finishers |
|---|
| 1996 | 717 |
| 2001 | 585 |
| 2006 | 486 |
| Source: Department of Labour, Jobs and Tertiary Education Indicator Tool. |
The industry is in decline because furniture imports have increased, and this furniture is often finished before it arrives in New Zealand.
Limited number of furniture finisher apprenticeships available
Despite the shortage of furniture finishers, demand for apprentices in this area is fairly low. This is because most furniture manufacturing stores employ only a few furniture finishers and can afford to take on new apprentices only when the business expands or an employee leaves.
Also, because few people stay for long with the company that trained them, there is little incentive for companies to invest time in training new staff.
Furniture finishers work for:
- large furniture manufacturing plants
- small specialist furniture restoration businesses.
Many furniture finishers run their own businesses or work as sole traders from home. Some work on a contractual basis for interior design firms.
Furniture finishers work throughout New Zealand. However, most work in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin or Wellington, where demand is greatest because of population.
