HVAC groups monitor workforce development changes

HVAC associations are readying responses to two workforce development initiatives that could face changes under the new Congress, aiming to maintain a healthy pipeline of technicians entering the industry. 

Why it matters: To meet demand, the HVAC industry is expected to post over 40,000 annual job openings for technicians and installers through 2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

These two developments — the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) — impact how the industry recruits and develops talent. Here’s what to watch.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Signed into law in 2014, WIOA provides grants to fund HVAC training at programs nationwide, including contractor-run apprenticeships, benefiting both job seekers and employers.

• Since expiring in 2019, WIOA has operated on temporary extensions — totaling $3 billion a year — awaiting “reauthorization” for additional funding.

The latest: The previous Congress had the opportunity to reauthorize WIOA in December, but passed on it, leaving its future in the hands of the new Congress. 

• “It’s just a matter of whether or not this is going to be a priority for the new Congress,” Mark Valentini, PHCC’s VP of Legislative Affairs, tells Homepros. 

What to watch: “There are so many things coming up — tax reform, immigration, etcetera — so it’s going to be tough to bring up WIOA, [but] I’m sure it will be,” Valentini says. 

• “The money is there, and people can take advantage of it,” he adds, “but on March 14, they’re going to have to [revisit it], and we’ll see how the Republican majority wants to fund it.”

Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs)

In 2019, the Department of Labor introduced IRAPs under the Trump administration, allowing third parties to create industry-focused apprenticeship programs separate from the traditional Registered Apprenticeship system.

• Industry associations successfully lobbied to exclude the building trades, including HVAC, from IRAPs, arguing they prioritize “credentialing” a narrow set of skills over the holistic skillsets needed in the trades. 
• The Biden administration eliminated the program in 2021, refocusing on Registered Apprenticeships — a move applauded by HVAC associations. 

The latest: With a new Trump administration in office, there’s a risk of IRAPs being reintroduced. 

• “[The idea with IRAPs], as opposed to multi-year apprenticeships, is to get workers through the pipeline,” Valentini says. 
• “So why should I do an apprenticeship when I could just get a few credentials and then see who’s going to hire me?” he adds. “That will water down the skill set of our workforce.” 

What to watch: The administration hasn’t yet announced plans to reintroduce IRAPs, but if it does, “we’d want to make sure that the building trades are still carved out from that,” Valentini notes.