America Faces 40,000+ HVAC Job Openings a Year. MRCOOL Is Rethinking How to Fill Them

Kentucky-based manufacturer launches trade-school partnerships and simplified technology to build the next generation of HVAC technicians

HICKORY, Ky., Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 40,600 HVAC job openings for mechanics and installers per year through 2035. This demand is driven by 11% employment growth (much faster than the average for all occupations) as well as technician retirements. MRCOOL®, LLC is responding with a workforce model that connects educators, employers, manufacturers and future technicians before they ever enter the field.

"We keep talking about the skilled-labor shortage as though somewhere there's a huge group of experienced technicians waiting to be hired. There isn't," said Jason Ingram, Managing Member of MRCOOL. "If we need more skilled people, we have to give more people a realistic way to become skilled."

MRCOOL's Workforce Approach

MRCOOL's model addresses the gap between career interest and technical independence through multiple pathways:

• Trade school partnerships: A collaboration with the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) HVAC/R program gives students hands-on exposure to residential and commercial systems, bridging classroom fundamentals and field readiness.
• Simplified installation technology: Patented innovations including Pre-Charged Quick Connect® Line Sets reduce unnecessary installation steps so technicians can focus on more complex work.
• Contractor support programs: MRCOOL's programs help technicians adapt to evolving customer expectations and labor constraints with approximately 885 contractor members involved in the Contractor Fulfillment Program.
• Structured apprenticeships: Aligned with the U.S. Department of Labor's Registered Apprenticeship model, 30/60/90-day milestone programs help contractors develop new talent through safety, documentation, supervised field work and technical responsibility.

Why It Matters Now

HVAC labor shortages hit hardest during extreme heat and cold, when service demand surges and experienced technicians' schedules are full. Meanwhile, heat pumps, inverter-driven systems, smart controls, and new refrigerants are transforming what technicians need to know.

"This generation is growing up surrounded by technology, but we don't always show them that the skilled trades are technology careers," said Bonnie Clymer, Chief Marketing Officer of MRCOOL. "Today's HVAC technician works with inverter technology, electronics, controls and energy efficiency. We need to tell that story better."

Get Involved

The technicians America needs in the next decade are entering classrooms and considering careers today. Contractors and educators interested in workforce development or contractor support can learn more about our Contractor Fulfillment Program.

If you are covering the ongoing skilled labor shortage, here's more information on how MRCOOL is working to actively fill 40,000 annual HVAC job openings through innovative trade school partnerships and simplified technology.

About MRCOOL®, LLC

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Hickory, Kentucky, MRCOOL is an innovator in the HVAC industry, dedicated to revolutionizing home climate control through its "Comfort Made Simple" philosophy. As the creator of the only true MRCOOL DIY® ductless heating and cooling system, MRCOOL leads the market in removing obstacles for homeowners and changing what's possible in HVAC. MRCOOL is a licensee of JOI Holding LLC.

For more information, visit mrcool.com.

Media Contact: Melissa Boyster
Research & Development | Marketing Communications | [email protected]

SOURCE MRCOOL®, LLC