According to a survey by the Federal Statistical Office, industry revenue totaled €9.93 billion, and the number of companies and employees remained nearly constant in 2024. At the same time, the share of permitted buildings which are built predominantly in wood is growing continuously – both in residential and non-residential construction. Thus, the timber construction sector has a growing share in total construction. In-depth insights are provided by the latest 2025 Carpentry/Timber Construction Report, published by Holzbau Deutschland – Bund Deutscher Zimmermeister (Timber Construction Germany – German Carpenters’ Association) in the ZDB (Central Association of the German Construction Industry).
With 8,610 new apprenticeship contracts in 2024, the carpentry trade once again represents the largest apprenticeship group in the construction industry. With a percentage of 11.5%, this is significantly higher than the national average (approximately 5%). The proportion of women among apprentices is also showing a positive trend. At 6.1%, it has reached a new all-time high – a sign of the increasing attractiveness of the skilled trades for women as well. The carpentry trade is asserting itself as a central pillar of sustainable construction and is a convincing choice due to its high willingness to provide specialized training, its growing diversity, and its role in climate-efficient timber construction.
