SBWI Reports 95% In-Field Employment Rate for Furniture Design Class of 2025
ADRIAN, Mich., October 23, 2026 — Students who enjoy designing, building and working with their hands have a compelling reason to consider the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute: 95% of its 2025 Furniture Design graduates available for work are employed in their field (20 of 21 graduates available for employment), according to the school’s latest employment report.
Graduate employment data were independently verified by independent third-party through direct contact with graduates and their employers. This third-party review was conducted under the employment verification requirements of the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
The results reflect the possibilities of a focused, ten-month education in furniture design and woodworking. Graduate records include work in furniture production, finishing, scenic carpentry, timber framing, teaching and independent businesses.
For graduate Rhiannon Zickafoose, the connection between school and employment was direct. In a testimonial published on SBWI’s website, she explained: “And thanks to company visits organized by the school, I landed a job straight out of the program.” SBWI student testimonial
These careers serve needs people encounter every day. Cabinetmakers create kitchens, storage and custom interiors. Furniture makers build pieces for homes, workplaces and public spaces. Carpenters construct, install and repair the structures and details that make buildings useful. The work combines measurement, design, machinery, materials knowledge and practical problem-solving.
Michigan offers a substantial setting for those skills. A Michigan Department of Natural Resources report using 2023 data estimates that the state’s forest products industries directly employed 42,477 people and generated $16.8 billion in direct economic output. Including suppliers and household spending, their contribution reached approximately 93,000 jobs and $27.3 billion in output. Within that broader industry—which also includes forestry, logging and paper products—wood furniture was the largest direct employer, with 12,433 jobs. That category includes cabinetry and custom architectural woodwork. Michigan DNR economic report
Michigan’s national presence is equally visible. Four of the top 15 companies—more than one-quarter—on Woodworking Network’s 2026 FDMC 300 ranking are headquartered in Michigan. The ranking covers North American wood products manufacturers and is based on 2025 sales. 2026 FDMC 300
National employment projections also show continuing opportunities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 62,800 carpenter openings annually from 2025 through 2035. It projects another 18,100 annual openings for woodworkers, including cabinetmakers and furniture finishers. Many openings arise as experienced workers retire or change occupations; woodworking openings are expected even as automation contributes to a modest decline in total employment in that occupational group. BLS: Carpenters, BLS: Woodworkers
For families comparing educational paths, national college outcomes provide additional context. The National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Class of 2024 report gives the following results among graduates with known outcomes at participating institutions:
Read the source data: NACE, First Destinations for the College Class of 2024 — full report, Figures 9 and 12–14 (PDF)
These figures describe early outcomes within six months of graduation and employment across fields. SBWI’s figure measures employment in the field, excludes graduates pursuing further education from its employment denominator, and reflects a later reporting point for a small, specialized cohort. The figures therefore provide context rather than a direct ranking of educational quality or job-placement performance. Graduates continuing their education should not be mistaken for unemployed job seekers.
For prospective students, SBWI offers the opportunity to develop both a craft and the skills to earn a living from it. Its Furniture Design curriculum combines studio projects and technical instruction with business topics including pricing, marketing, portfolio development and working with customers. Furniture Design program
Students, families and community members are invited to visit the school, see student work and explore where an education in woodworking can lead. Request a tour through SBWI’s website, email admissions@sbwi.edu or call 517-759-3070.
About Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute
Located in Adrian, Michigan, the Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute provides education in woodworking and furniture design through practical instruction and studio work. Its Furniture Design diploma program helps students develop technical, creative and business skills for careers working with wood. Learn more at sbwi.edu.