This past week marks my first anniversary with The NEWS. I spent it engrossed in all things dehumidification for our upcoming Humidification, Dehumidification & Mold Remediation Focus Issue. In this past year, I’ve learned more about HVAC and things like energy efficiency and IAQ than I ever thought I would — and there’s always more to learn. Each new topic tackled presents some new nugget of information that I file away.
We have a pretty diverse staff here at The NEWS, with long-time industry veterans along with relative young-ins, like myself, unlike the overall aging HVAC industry.
When I talk to contractors, a common theme is labor shortage and best practices for recruiting young people to the industry. According to Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI), the average age of American skilled workers is 55 years old, and a recent Gallup poll revealed most Americans are retiring by the age of 62. We need to focus on recruiting young talent into the industry and then grooming future leaders to fill vacant rolls as aging workers retire.
As a nod to the young professionals in our industry, The NEWS is recognizing the Top 40 Under 40. The contest actually began as the Top 10 Under 40, but we received more nominations than originally anticipated, so we bumped it up. Our goal is to highlight the great young people in HVAC, whether they are contractors, technicians, instructors, distributors, or employed by a manufacturer. Watch for them in our Aug. 17 issue.
