Women are joining the refrigeration and air conditioning industry in unprecedented numbers, with figures showing female Refrigerant Handling Licence (RHL) holders have grown more than 400 per cent in the last five years.
More than 50 per cent of these women are under 29 years of age contributing to apprenticeship numbers which are at an all-time high.
This is good news for a workforce in desperate need of diversification but there is still more work to do.
While the demand for talent is soaring, female representation in the RAC trade remains in single digits.
It is lower than the construction industry where women make up less than 15 per cent of the trade workforce with fewer than five per cent working directly on-site.
Diversifying the talent pool fosters innovation, creativity, and resilience but this change requires commitment from the entire industry.
It means nurturing talent and supporting initiatives like NextGen 2025 which provides a showcase of our skilled technicians.
Sponsored by the Australian Refrigeration Council, NextGen is an opportunity to reward our most talented apprentices and technicians and let everyone know about the benefits of a career in HVACR.
Time is running out, nominations for NextGen close tomorrow. This is your last chance to showcase your organisation and be part of a programme that recognises excellence.
Winners will be announced in April with our Top 20 technicians under 25 profiled online and in the April edition of CCN magazine.
Get your nominations in by close of business on 20 February, 2025 by emailing sandrarossi@yaffa.com.au