Labor Crunch Hits Carpet Industry

Carpets can be made of many materials: polyester, acrylic, polypropylene, and nylon. But for sheer luxury, nothing approaches the grandeur of a fine wool rug. That's because wool is a natural fiber that exhibits excellent durability, takes color dye well, and is abundant. Often, and 80/20 blended carpet has some synthetic fiber mixed in, which adds desirable properties and lowers cost. Yes, wool is expensive, and this expense limits its overall share of the carpet market.

Now, another factor may be also limiting wool carpet market share: labor shortages. You see, wealthy carpet and rug purchasers can buy woolen carpets at any price, but they can't suddenly increase the number of skilled workers needed to make the carpets. A rationing phenomenon has occurred at the top of the woolen carpet market, due in large part to labor shortages in Nepal and other wool carpet producers.

Carpet manufacturers in Nepal are worried. Many skilled laborers leave the country to find higher paying jobs elsewhere. The 350 carpet manufacturers in Nepal are scrambling to train and retain skilled employees. The drop in the Nepali labor force is dramatic, from 500,000 workers a decade ago to a meager 30,000 today. Current demand of 900,000 square meters of hand-knotted woolen carpets calls for an immediate doubling of the labor force. But production, already low at 686,000 square meters, is likely to drop to 550,000 square meters.

Nepali woolen carpet, praised for its natural beauty, is exported to Germany, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Belgium, Canada and the Netherlands. Germany imports 60 percent of total Nepali woolen carpet exports. Nepal is also experience a rise in prices from wool suppliers such as Tibet and New Zealand. The cost of yarn has doubled in the last year.

Given the premium costs associated with luxurious woolen carpet and rugs, owners in the country must take suitable steps to protect their investments. "Proper installation and periodic cleaning of wool rugs and carpets is essential to their long life" said the owner of a highly esteemed Rockland County carpet installation firm. Stains should be removed immediately. If you don't know how, then hire a professional carpet cleaner to clean and rejuvenate your woolen carpet. You should vacuum your new carpet frequently to remove normal shedding. Use walk-off mats at carpet boundaries such as room exits. Make sure your carpet installer seals all seams with the appropriate steam sealer to prevent edge unraveling. Use a firm flat cushion underneath wool carpet. When picking out a large amount of carpeting, inspect for the natural variations among dye lots, although many people welcome this variation as a sign of the carpet's organic integrity. And don't forget to put down chair mats under rolling office chairs.

Woolen carpet is an expensive and beautiful investment that, with proper care, can last for generations. Use a professional to take care of yours.