Heating and Cooling Technicians

Employment in the heating and cooling field is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). An increase in commercial and residential construction is expected to drive the growth in employment. Some openings will occur when experienced workers retire or transfer to other work. Other openings will be generated because of a demand for new, cutting-edge climate-control systems for residences and industrial and commercial users. In addition, many existing systems are being upgraded to provide more efficient use of energy and to provide benefits not originally built into the system. There is a growing emphasis on improving indoor air and making equipment more environmentally friendly. Systems that use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) need to be retrofitted or replaced with new equipment, since regulations banning CFC production became effective in 2000. In addition, more people are concerned about improving indoor air quality, which could also lead to more jobs for heating and cooling technicians.

Comfort is only one of the major reasons for environmental control. A conditioned atmosphere is a necessity in any precision industry where temperature and humidity can affect fine tolerances. As products and processes become more complex and more highly automated, the need for closely controlled conditions becomes increasingly important. For example, electronics manufacturers must keep the air bone-dry for many parts of the production processes to prevent damage to parts and to maintain nonconductivity. Pharmaceutical and food manufacturers rely on pure, dirt-free air. High-speed multicolor printing requires temperature control of rollers and moisture control for the paper racing through the presses. These and other sophisticated industries will rely more in the coming years on precision control of room conditions. The actual amount of industry growth for these applications will hinge on the overall health of the nation's economy and the rate of manufacturing.

Technicians who are involved in maintenance and repair are not as affected by the economy as workers in some other jobs. Whereas in bad economic times a consumer may postpone building a new house or installing a new air-conditioning system, hospitals, restaurants, technical industries, and public buildings will still require skilled technicians to maintain their climate-control systems. The DOL reports that job opportunities will be good for heating and cooling technicians who have completed training at an accredited technical school or through an apprenticeship, are certified, have good troubleshooting skills, and are familiar with computers and electronics.