The labor shortage in the skilled trades has turned the search for new talent into a treasure hunt. However, the fact remains that employment of HVACR technicians and installers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, per the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, the HVAC Workforce Development Foundation estimates the U.S. will need 115,000 HVACR technicians by the year 2022. So, with these numbers in mind, it’s hard not to wonder where exactly the “X” that marks the spot is — where are HVACR contractors finding new employees?

Finding new employees is not the problem, it’s finding new employees with experience, noted Scott Merritt, owner of Fire & Ice Heating & Air Conditioning, Columbus, Ohio.