Commercial Refrigeration Technician: Is It a Secure Job?

The commercial refrigeration industry is ripe with opportunity for smart, motivated young men and women. If you’re thinking about starting a career as a commercial refrigeration technician, and wondering about the long-term prospects of the job, we have great news for you. The fact is, it would be difficult to find a field with more job security.

Experts agree: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Here are just a few of the reasons why, if you work hard and apply yourself, you will always be able to find work as a commercial refrigeration technician.

A variety of employers need commercial refrigeration technicians

Many types of organizations need cooling equipment and systems for storing and transporting perishable goods and materials. For these businesses, refrigeration systems are mission-critical. When they fail, the business can lose revenue very quickly. A restaurant with a walk-in freezer box that breaks down can lose thousands of dollars in product if the equipment is not fixed in a hurry. If a manufacturing plant has to halt production due a refrigeration issue, that problem could cost millions in a single day.

That means there’s a great deal of demand for commercial refrigeration service, and service providers must have skilled technicians available to respond quickly. This is not a business where you can get back to someone a few days later!

Here are a few types of organizations that depend upon the services of a commercial refrigeration technician. Some will hire their own staff technicians, and others will hire a refrigeration service company to support their systems.

• Supermarkets and smaller food markets
• Restaurants
• Convenience stores and gas stations
• Department stores
• Warehouses
• Manufacturing plants
• Industrial facilities
• Health care and pharmaceutical facilities
• Schools and universities
• Trucking and shipping companies

There is continuous demand for the work

Unlike some other trade jobs, refrigeration work is in demand all year round. No matter what the weather or season, perishable food and materials need to stay chilled. And businesses rely on refrigeration systems for day to day operations.

That’s also true regardless of the economy. Even in a recession, there’s no dip in the demand for commercial refrigeration service. That’s a big factor in the job security offered by this field and one of the reasons smart people are joining the industry.

Commercial refrigeration technician is a highly skilled job

You can’t just hire somebody off the street and teach them to be a qualified commercial refrigeration technician in a few months. Doing this work well requires not only 5 years or more of classroom and on-the-job training, but also a commitment to ongoing learning. That’s because refrigeration technology is rapidly advancing. Even technicians who have been working in the industry for decades must regularly learn how to use new tools and how to install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair new systems.

Unfortunately for employers and fortunately for people looking to start a career in commercial refrigeration, there are not enough technicians who have invested the time and effort to learn these essential skills. The demand for skilled workers is outpacing the supply of talent.

Learn more: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Jobs: What’s Required to Get Hired

There’s a labor shortage in the industry

Demand for commercial refrigeration service is high and projected to grow. However, there is a critical shortage of skilled refrigeration technicians.

Why? Primarily because a large portion of the current workforce, the “baby boom” generation, is retiring. Also, high school technical programs that used to promote careers in the trades have all but dried up. Another problem is the culture in this country that encourages every student to go to college and undervalues careers in the trades. That’s unfortunate, because the refrigeration & HVAC industry offers higher pay, better benefits, and better job security than many careers that require a college education.

If you’re technically-minded, a problem-solver, and motivated to learn, a career as a refrigeration technician can be one of the smartest life decisions you will make.

Is a career as a commercial refrigeration technician right for you? Start here.

As we mentioned in the beginning of this article, the opportunities in commercial refrigeration are amazing for someone with the right skills and qualities. Are you a good fit? Find out by taking our short 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.