For women who enjoy solving problems, and have an aptitude for technology, and don’t want to sit at a desk all day, HVAC & Refrigeration service is one of the top trade jobs to consider.
In fact, the opportunities for women in the HVACR industry are significant. Here’s why we need women in our industry, and why HVACR technician careers might just be the best trade jobs for women.
Why the HVACR industry provides top trade jobs for women
Here are just a few of the reasons why a career as an HVAC or Refrigeration service technician offers such a great opportunity for women.
Great pay and benefits without college debt
You can get hired as an entry level “helper” or junior technician with no experience in the industry, as long as you have the personal qualities and skills employers want. That means you avoid the expense of college or trade school, and can start working and earning immediately while you learn on the job.
It does take 4-5 years of working and learning to become a fully qualified technician. But if you join a union shop, you get raises each year along with paid overtime and fully paid medical benefits. After 5 years, you can easily make over $100,000 per year.
Learn more> HVACR Offers High Paying Jobs for Women Without a College Degree
Interesting & challenging trade jobs for women
For smart, technically-minded women, HVAC and Refrigeration service offers an intellectual challenge that other trades may lack. The work is about problem solving, and it involves learning to use new digital tools and repairing complex systems.
In fact, this industry is changing so fast that there’s always something new to learn, even for fully qualified technicians. So women who enjoy learning are a great fit for HVACR service.
Work variety for people who like to be active
One thing is certain: you’ll never be bored as an HVACR technician.
Every day brings a new challenge as you work in different locations, on different types of equipment, and solve new types of problems. You won’t be sitting all day, but stay active and use your hands and your mind to complete rewarding work. You’ll be serving others and helping your customers stay comfortable in their homes and workplaces.
Long-term job security
HVACR is a growing, secure industry that offers long-term career opportunities. Once you become a skilled and knowledgeable technician, you have valuable expertise and can find work anywhere in the country.
Learn more> What Do HVAC Technicians Do?
Why HVAC employers are now actively recruiting women
Assumptions have changed and stigmas are lifting.
In the past, many employers assumed that the physical nature of HVACR work meant that men were better suited to the job. Or that women would not be interested. Yet today there are plenty of women in construction jobs who are clearly interested and more than capable of physical work.
Companies are realizing that they have been overlooking more than half the population in their recruitment efforts, and that is hurting their ability to find and attract qualified talent.
There’s a shortage of skilled workers.
It’s true that many HVAC & Refrigeration employers are having trouble finding new technicians. There are a couple of reasons for the shortage of workers they face now:
- The most experienced technicians from the Baby Boomer generation are retiring.
- Fewer young people are entering the trades as more are pushed toward college.
The industry is growing and changing.
The HVAC and Refrigeration industry is growing due to building booms in cities, the development of new technologies, and the constant demand for heating, cooling and refrigeration in any economy.
That means the problem of a workforce shortage is compounded. Not only do we need to fill the deficit, but also prepare for the future where the need will be even greater.
And, the important skills needed for this work are changing. As technology advances, the industry needs smart people with effective problem solving skills. It also needs people who excel at communication and teamwork.
All of these factors add up to a situation where employers are actively looking for women to train to become qualified HVAC and Refrigeration technicians.
Find out more about HVACR: top trade jobs for women
Want to learn more about the industry and the opportunities? Visit our home page.
Want to know if you’re well-suited to a career in HVAC & Refrigeration service? Take our quiz.
HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.