This article originally appeared on the ACHR NEWS’ website on Aug. 13. See the article in its entirety by clicking here.
Talk to any professional at any level of the HVAC industry — from the hands-on contractors to the dealers where they buy their supplies to the manufacturers of everything from commercial compressors to foil tape — and they will all voice the same concern about the industry: a lack of new talent entering the trade. It’s the same story in plumbing, painting, electrical, carpentry, and just about any skilled trade. Baby boomers are aging into retirement. Rather than exploring careers in the trades, Gen Xers and millennials chose college in significantly higher numbers than previous generations. According to the Pew Research Center, 40% of millennial workers aged 25-29 had a bachelor’s degree in 2016, compared to 32% of Gen Xers in 2000 and 26% of baby boomers in 1985.