My dad's trade became his hobby, he apprenticed as a cabinet maker but at the end of his apprenticeship there were no jobs so he went into engineering (Wolseley Sheep Shearing) and stayed there all his working life.
His woodworking skills were used in his hobby, he made toys, doll's houses, sewing boxes and anything else that was needed.
I still have a telephone seat, couple of stools, an ironing board, a couple of display stands he made for my shop (for fresh fruit and veg), I use them now as tool boxes in my workshop.
Another skill he had was leatherwork, he bought cow hides and turned them into briefcases and he always repaired our shoes.