In 1942 “Rosie the Riveter” became the face of women’s participation in the American War Movement. Shirt sleeves rolled up, hair pulled back, and with a determined look, Rosie’s slogan “We can do it” encouraged women to take jobs in factories and munitions depots to help the war effort. By 1943 women’s employment in the US aircraft industry jumped to 65% compared with only 1% in the pre-war years.

Today, over 70 years later, some industries, like heating and air conditioning (HVAC), still rival those pre-war statistics with only 2% of the jobs held by women. This is true even though in 2017 women made up 47% of the US labor force.

With job opportunities at its highest level ever, and training and apprenticeships available, the HVACR market makes a great career choice for anyone looking for a long term, rewarding career that combines technical, hands-on work, with customer service and business management benefits.

Within HVAC, entry-level installers, repair technicians, sales engineers, and CEO’s make up the diverse occupations available for women looking for a rewarding career. The Department of Labor (DoL) reports that jobs for HVAC installers and mechanics will grow fifteen percent through 2026, faster than the average for all other occupations. The findings note that “job opportunities for HVACR technicians are expected to be good.”

Ruth Ann Davis, president of Women in HVAC tells contracting magazine theNews, “There’s a huge shortage of skilled workers, and women can certainly be part of the solution.” But for women to begin filling that gap, they first need to understand what HVAC is and the incredible potential waiting for them. Dina Dwyer-Owens, co-chair, The Dwyer Group believes that “If there is a lack of female representation in the HVAC industry, it starts with them not knowing what’s available to them. But, it’s an obstacle that we can overcome.The more we can communicate that these opportunities exist for women, the more women will pursue these careers.”

“If there is a lack of female representation in the HVAC industry, it starts with them not knowing what’s available to them. But, it’s an obstacle that we can overcome. The more we can communicate that these opportunities exist for women, the more women will pursue these careers.”

-Dina Dwyer-Owens, The Dwyer Group

Organizations like Women in HVACR actively work to connect women already in HVAC fields with those who may have never considered this line of work. Luckily for these organizations and the women they seek to recruit, there are female role models ready to help. Telese Williams, a tradesperson working outside of Atlanta, Georgia tells women that “the pay is excellent. Once you get it down, you can go into business for yourself and be independent. And it’s just fun; I have a lot of fun doing what I do.”

That level of enthusiasm extends in all areas of the industry from installers like Telese Williams to senior managers including Gerri Domenikos, CEO of AirLogix in Astoria, New York. “If you’re courageous enough to be in this business, someone who has talent and courage can really succeed,” she said.

The HVAC industry is growing and good paying jobs are available to anyone looking for an interesting career. With the rise of organizations like Women in HVACR, getting the word out about this exciting career opportunity we may soon see more women in the HVACR industry.