The mean number of employees per enterprise in the furniture manufacturing
industry in Gumushane province was less than 3.4,
which is the mean value across Turkey. The mean number of years
of operation of these businesses was less than 34, which is the
mean value across Turkey (Fırat, 2013). Although there are many
vocational schools in Turkey that provide education related to furniture
manufacturing, as well as institutions that grant degrees in
furniture manufacturing, the employment rate of graduates in this
sector is low (Aksu and Koc, 2009). Only 13.2% of vocational school
graduates are employed in this sector. However, the employment
rate of graduates from non-vocational educational institutions
employed in this sector is 68.4%. It can be concluded from this that
the majority of employees in the sector do not have an in-depth
knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of wood or
wood composites