The HVAC workforce shortage is pushing schools to rethink how technicians are trained.
Mohave College has expanded its employer-driven skilled-trades program through a new 36,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in Arizona.
The center supports training across:
HVAC.
Electrical.
Industrial maintenance.
Advanced manufacturing.
Simulation Is Being Added to Hands-On Training
The college is using technology from Interplay Learning alongside traditional hands-on instruction.
That gives students a way to practice diagnostic and technical scenarios before working on live equipment.
For HVAC, that can be particularly useful for:
Electrical troubleshooting.
Refrigeration concepts.
System diagnostics.
Safety.
Component identification.
Employers Help Shape the Model
Mohave describes the center as employer-driven, meaning regional companies can use the facility for both new students and existing employees.
That matters because the HVAC skills gap is not limited to people entering the industry.
Existing technicians also need training on:
A2Ls.
Heat pumps.
Controls.
Inverters.
New equipment.
The Training Problem Is Getting Bigger
HVAC equipment is becoming more sophisticated at exactly the same time contractors are struggling to find enough workers.
That creates two simultaneous problems:
Not enough technicians.
Not enough advanced technical capability.
Facilities like this attempt to address both.
Contractor Takeaway
Contractors increasingly cannot wait for the labor market to solve the workforce shortage for them.
The more training systems connect schools directly with employers, the more contractors can influence the skills technicians learn before they arrive on the jobsite.
