Welcome, Summer - But Where are All the Air Conditioning Technicians?

Contractors are having a difficult time finding trained workers to install and maintain HVAC systems. This shortage could result in trouble for people who require air conditioning units in their homes and businesses over the forthcoming (often hot) summer months.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that HVAC employment opportunities are expected to increase 9% from 2006 to 2016 to address the need for these skilled technicians. The BLS has found that one of the reasons that there is a shortage of A/C workers is because of the large number of technicians with established careers preparing to retire in the upcoming years. Furthermore, the HVAC industry is quite diverse. The number of trained people specializing specifically in air conditioning is relatively low when compared to other HVAC specialties. Many HVAC technicians have simply chosen jobs in other areas, creating an imbalance in the HVAC industry.

How will this technician shortage impact Americans?

With a shortage of technicians, people who have air conditioning systems in need of immediate repair might wait a week or more for a technician to be able to get to them. In this scenario, many will suffer the discomfort of going without air conditioning during the summer months -- especially in times of peak high temperatures. Who likes the feeling of peeling his or her thighs away from a leather chair after sitting too long in the sweltering heat?

It also can be acutely inconvenient to go without air conditioning. Not only might people avoid having friends over on a Saturday night, but they also have to remember to be home when the technician arrives. To do this, they might have to miss work, find someone else to pick up their kids after school, or put off buying groceries until another day. If there were more technicians available, it is possible that people might only have to wait out narrow time frames before someone comes to service their units.

Being without air conditioning can have more serious health consequences as well -- especially for young children and elderly adults. Air conditioners filter the air, keeping pollen and dander counts low. Unfortunately, asthma and allergies are difficult to keep under control while living in non-air conditioned (often non-hypoallergenic) environments. In places such as Phoenix, AZ, where the average high temperature in July is 104 degrees, the risks can be higher. Prolonged exposure to heat can result in dehydration or heat exhaustion, which in severe cases can result in brain damage, organ failure, or even death. Heat-related deaths are more common in elderly adults, but are possible for people of any age.

What constitutes excessive heat? Anything 10 degrees over the average high for the area can result in heat-related illness and injury. And many areas have naturally scorching summers, so properly working air conditioning units are necessities.

Why consider a career as an AC technician? It pays to.

People who are looking to begin a new career should consider becoming air conditioning technicians, because this career choice is relatively unaffected by recession. As people increasingly feel the pinch of a tightening economy, these technicians still find work, despite a decrease in construction and an increase in manufacturing layoffs. As long as there are air conditioning units to be repaired or serviced, air conditioning technicians will find homes and businesses in which to work.

Since air conditioning technicians are secure in their jobs, they can count on steady paychecks and health care benefits for themselves and for their families. In fact, the income of AC technicians has increased over recent years as companies attempt to gain new technicians and retain them in such a competitive industry.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), a nationwide association of HVAC-R contractors, performed a survey to evaluate the status of its members in 2007 when compared to 2005. Over the two-year period, the ACCA noticed that many members had received significant increases in salary. 45% of the technicians who participated in the survey earned more than $45,000 -- an increase of 15% from their 2005 salaries. Air conditioning technicians are increasingly necessary and lucratively compensated in the 21st century, despite warnings of American economic recession. As systems continually evolve and technologies go greener, even more qualified technicians will be needed in the coming years.

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Hands-on technical education gives AC technicians the knowledge they need to succeed in their jobs. The Refrigeration School, Inc. produces technicians who graduate from school with valuable HVAC, refrigeration, and air conditioning skills. RSI is a family-owned education center located in Phoenix, AZ; the school strives for 100 percent career placement rates for graduates.

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