By Eamonn Ryan
The HVAC&R industry has a people problem – but perhaps not for the reasons many employers believe. The narrative often focuses on younger generations being unwilling to pursue careers in the trades or technical industries. The reality may be quite different. Many young people simply do not know that HVAC&R exists as a rewarding, technically sophisticated and future-focused career path.
Many young people simply have never been exposed to trade and technical careers as a genuine first-choice option.
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This was one of the key themes explored in Episode 61 of the ASHRAE Journal Podcast featuring Paige Knowles, HVAC professional, industry advocate and founder of the All Trades Paige platform, and Max Rohr, director of education at Caleffi North America. Their discussion examined how industries can better attract new talent, develop stronger teams and create workplaces where people can thrive – lessons that are particularly relevant to the HVAC&R sector as it navigates rapid technological change and growing skills shortages.
According to Knowles, the industry’s greatest challenge is not declining interest among younger generations but rather a disconnect between potential candidates and the opportunities available to them. Many simply have never been exposed to trade and technical careers as a genuine first-choice option.
For decades, school leavers have largely been presented with a straightforward choice: pursue a university education, join the military or enter the trades. In many cases, vocational careers have been portrayed as a fallback option rather than a deliberate and rewarding career choice. Knowles believes that perception must change.
The irony is that the modern HVAC&R industry bears little resemblance to the stereotypical perceptions many young people may still hold. Today’s professionals may find themselves designing sustainable buildings, programming intelligent control systems, commissioning data centres, optimising energy performance or helping organisations meet increasingly ambitious decarbonisation targets.
This growing diversity of opportunities presents a significant recruitment opportunity for the sector. South Africa’s HVAC&R industry is evolving rapidly. The refrigerant transition continues to create demand for new technical competencies, while increasing investment in cold chain infrastructure, smart buildings, data centres and energy-efficient technologies requires professionals with both theoretical knowledge and practical problem-solving skills. The industry needs engineers, technicians, commissioning specialists, controls experts and sustainability practitioners capable of operating at the intersection of technology and the built environment.
Yet many school leavers remain unaware that these opportunities exist.
Rohr argues that generations of students have been presented with an overly simplistic understanding of available career pathways. Between the traditional distinctions of university education and vocational training lies an enormous range of specialised professions that contribute to the built environment.
Perhaps one of the industry’s greatest strengths is that its work delivers tangible and highly visible results. Whether improving indoor environmental quality in hospitals, reducing energy consumption in commercial buildings or preserving temperature-sensitive products throughout the cold chain, HVAC&R professionals have the opportunity to solve real-world problems every day.
Knowles speaks passionately about the satisfaction that comes from working with one’s hands and contributing something meaningful to society. Rohr similarly believes that many people underestimate the sense of purpose that accompanies building services careers. Well-designed buildings improve occupant comfort, enhance productivity and reduce environmental impacts – outcomes that extend far beyond the mechanical systems themselves.
The industry also offers something increasingly valuable in today’s economy: long-term job security. Buildings will continue to require heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems, while emerging technologies will only expand the sector’s skills requirements. As Rohr notes, these careers offer fascinating technical challenges that appeal to a wide variety of learning styles.
For the HVAC&R industry, changing perceptions may be the first step towards addressing its skills shortage. Before organisations can recruit talented people, they must first ensure those people know the opportunities exist.
The industry’s future workforce is already out there. The challenge is making sure it knows where to look.
Coming next: In Part Two, we explore why HVAC&R companies may need to rethink how and where they recruit younger talent – and why traditional recruitment strategies may no longer be enough.
