With the growing shortage of qualified technicians, HVAC companies need to do more to actively recruit women for HVAC technician jobs.
Women make up 57 percent of the workforce in this country, yet only 1.4 to 9 percent (depending who you ask) of HVAC technicians are women. The disparity doesn’t seem to be because employers are unwilling to hire women, but rather due to a lack of female candidates.
In this article, we’ll explore the need, the challenges, and some ideas to help you hire more women as technicians.
Why it’s time to recruit women for HVAC technician jobs
The technician shortage. As our labor force ages out, more experienced technicians are retiring every day. With the industry continuing to grow and fewer young people entering the trades, the shortage grows more critical every year.
The labor market. Unemployment figures remain low, and wages have increased significantly for many types of jobs over the past few years. That means our industry faces more competition than ever before to attract qualified people for HVAC technician jobs.
Women in the trades. Other skilled trades have been successfully recruiting and hiring more women over the past five years or so. The HVAC industry has some catching up to do.
Without actively working to hire more women for HVAC technician jobs, we are missing out on a talent pool that’s more than half the population!
The challenge of recruiting more women technicians
There are a variety of reasons why the the HVAC industry is having trouble recruiting women to become service technicians, including:
- Young women are far less likely to be exposed to the idea of a career in the trades (through school counselors, school activities, mentors, families and friends)
- Traditional gender stereotypes can discourage women from considering HVAC technicians jobs and careers
- Misunderstanding the nature of the work and the role of technology
- Lack of knowledge about the financial rewards and benefits
Companies can overcome some of these challenges by spreading the word about the availability of lucrative and secure HVAC technician jobs to young women exploring career options. And, by providing education about the changing nature of HVAC technical work.
While there are challenges before us, there is also a significant opportunity. The “Great Resignation” movement that resulted from the pandemic has more young people rethinking their career choices. They are also pushing back on the idea of taking on college debt. That means more opportunities to attract people to an industry that’s growing and has a great deal to offer.
3 ways to recruit more women for HVAC technician jobs
1. Participate in school career fairs
If you have ever attended a high school career fair, you may have noticed that it’s not only colleges showing off what they have to offer young people. You’ll see branches of the military and sometimes labor unions representing the trades.
Signing up to meet with students at local schools (both high schools and community colleges) is a great way to make contact and begin to provide education about the benefits of HVAC technician jobs and careers. To get young women to stop at your table, your signs and display materials must make it clear that you want to hire women.
While you’re there, try to engage the school guidance counselors. Share the benefits of HVAC careers as well as the qualifications you’re looking for, and tell them you are specifically looking to hire women as technicians. Keep in touch and ask for referrals!
2. Target women working in other trades
Women working in other trade jobs, such as construction or plumbing, are what we might call “low hanging fruit.” That’s because these women have already overcome the barriers of entering the trades in general. They also possess some of the skills you need in HVAC technicians.
All you have to do is convince them that a career as an HVAC technician offers more (more money, more benefits, more interesting work, more job security, more long-term growth potential… ) than what they are doing now.
One caveat: you need to recruit them early in their careers before the switch becomes too difficult financially or they have invested too much time learning a different trade.
Consider targeting job ads to specific tradespeople, citing the benefits of HVAC, and inviting them to talk to you about an HVAC apprenticeship. Since it’s illegal to advertise jobs specifically for women or men, be sure to use inclusive language (“seeking smart women and men with plumbing experience”) to make it clear that you want to hire women.
3. Target women exiting the military
HVACR is among the best jobs for military veterans because it utilizes so many of the skills that service members typically learn and excel at during their military careers. In general, veterans tend to be reliable and adaptable team players with great communication, mechanical and technical skills. Just what we want in HVAC technicians.
Women exiting military service may have a harder time than their male counterparts finding a new career that’s an appropriate fit. That makes them ideal candidates to target for HVAC technician jobs.
There are programs that can help you connect with veterans and people transitioning from military service, including:
More content that can help you hire women
Here at HVACR Career Connect NY, we publish content to help attract people to our industry and service technician jobs. Feel free to share our website and articles with prospective job seekers. Here are just a few examples:
HVACR Offers High Paying Jobs for Women Without a College Degree
We Need Women in HVACR! Why Not You?
Becoming an HVAC Technician as a Second Career
Best Jobs for Veterans in NYC: HVACR Service
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.
Learn about technical careers in the HVAC & Refrigeration industry, how to get hired and tips to build your career.