noun
handicraftsman; craftsman; artisan
Refers to a person who makes things by hand as a trade, often in a traditional or small-scale context.
彼は伝統的な手工業者として、木工細工を生業にしている。
He works as a traditional craftsman, making wooden items for a living.
Compound of 手工業 (handicraft industry) + 者 (person). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows a common pattern for occupational nouns.