The recent AHR Expo 2020 Education Program in Orlando, FL featured a seminar to discuss how to recruit, train, and keep professional technicians. For some background, check out this article I did for Contracting Business in the Aug 22, 2019 edition of HotMail: Recruit Train Keep. Let’s take a look at a variety of industry perspectives and solutions discussed in this seminar. As you read, consider how these ideas influence your career and company now and in the future.
The Ugly Statistics
Statistics tell a story and this one’s pretty ugly and a little scary. According to information gathered from published studies, today’s HVAC technician workforce numbers around 260,000 people. The number of unfilled HVAC technician jobs is about 80,000 or 39% of technicians currently employed. On top of that, we’re suffering a net technician loss of about 8% or 20,000 per year.
At the current 20,000 per year rate of loss, in five years we’ll be short another 100,000 technicians.
We’re losing techs to retirement or to finding better careers outside our industry. At the current 20,000 per year rate of loss, in five years we’ll be short another 100,000 technicians. Add that to the 80,000 people we need today and by 2025 the projected technician shortage may be 180,000 or 53%.
As an industry we’re in deep trouble. But where there is trouble for some, the wise will find opportunity.
Industry Problem, Company Solutions
Politicians and industry leaders seek to solve our workforce shortage by attacking it as a social issue. We need this effort and appreciate the good work they do.
The most successful companies solve their technician shortage at a local level - Ideally, they become the kind of company the best techs want to work for.
However, the most successful companies solve their technician shortage at a local level - Ideally, they become the kind of company the best techs want to work for.
Did you catch that? Savvy companies are making internal changes to solve the technician shortage and are succeeding wildly. They have taken personal responsibility for the problem and turned it into an opportunity.
As this idea was offered at the AHR seminar we saw an immediate division in our audience. Several heads in the group were nodding “yes” and grinning. About four times the number of heads were shaking their heads “no” and frowning.
The division that companies had on how to attract the best techs was amazing. The discussion that followed indicated 80% of the employers in the room believed techs would be fortunate to be employed by them. The remaining 20% of the employers in the room were delighted and fortunate to have great technicians join their team.
By the end of the discussion, it was crystal clear that companies which offer the type of job most qualified techs want, will successfully solve the pending technician shortage to their advantage.
Employer Solutions
Discussions with employers attracting high-end, committed, HVAC technicians unveiled company practices in direct opposition to the 80% who shook their heads no. Careers offered by the 20% include many advantages the 80% will not provide.
- A defined and achievable career path
- Signing bonuses
- Work-life balance
- Flexible hours to allow response to personal and family needs
- Access to advancing technology
- Increased salary and benefits
- Training and advancement
- The promise of success as technicians define it
- Equal commitment and accountability by both parties.
No matter if you are a technician or an owner, after reading this list, are your nodding and smiling, or shaking your head and frowning? Either way, your future is determined by your response to these ideas on what it takes to attract and keep HVAC professionals.
What Do Techs Want?
A Gallup poll indicates only 34% of workers in the U.S. are engaged, involved, enthusiastic, and committed to their jobs. This translates to 66% who may be disengaged, uninvolved, lacking enthusiasm, and are uncommitted to their career.
HVAC professionals who build strong companies and careers are only found in the 34% pool. To entice and retain the 34%, you’ve got to offer a job where they can earn what they are worth and deserve.
Many of the bullet points above define what professional HVAC technicians want. Success is achieved when employers and techs provide what each wants and receive what they need. Success really is a two-way street.
In addition, interviews with a handful of great technicians reveal that they desire these job features:
- A career knowing where they’re headed
- The feeling of belonging and having a purpose within their work group
- Personal advancement and contribution
- Training – Certifications are often their degree
- Recognition for personal growth and advancement
- Employers who pay for and encourage participation in trade organizations
- An environment where healthy competition is encouraged
- Really cool tools and instruments.
Others are attracted by trade scholarships. Some companies offer their own substantial scholarships to the best qualified high school students. See my HotMail article from September 6, 2019 on this topic for more information: NCILinkPrivateScholarships.
Building Techs from Zero Experience
More progressive employers understand it’s in the best interest of their companies and their technicians to find and build HVAC careers from scratch.
Angie Snow, Vice President of Western Heating & Air Conditioning in Orem, Utah said, “We look for candidates with a great attitude. Experience? Maybe. Education? Perhaps.”
She adds, “We are hiring people with zero experience, helping them get the education they need, and training them in a way we would like to have them trained.”
Can you include the concepts offered in this article in your approach to find and build technicians?
Can you include the concepts offered in this article in your approach to find and build technicians?
You, whether a company owner or technician, face a fast-changing horizon. Wages will skyrocket, pressure for solutions will increase, and competition for better jobs and more technicians will force change. Both of you can prepare for and receive new opportunities ahead.
Rob “Doc” Falke serves the industry as president of National Comfort Institute, Inc., an HVAC-based training company and membership organization. You can contact Doc at [email protected] or call him at 800-633-7058. Go to NCI’s website at nationalcomfortinstitute.com for free information, articles, and downloads.