Job prospects Air Conditioning And Refrigeration Mechanic in Nova Scotia

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Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nova Scotia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics (NOC 72402) in Nova Scotia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Great demand for HVAC mechanics and installers has been noted all over the province in recent years. The maintenance and replacement of existing HVAC systems in homes and businesses, installations associated with higher levels of housing construction activity, and public programs to increase the adoption of heat pumps are all significant contributors to the need for workers in this occupation. 

Strong demand has resulted in favourable hiring conditions, even for those finishing NSCC programs with no experience, and competition among employers for workers has boosted wages in some communities. As with other construction trades, finding a journeyperson able to supervise apprentices can be challenging.

Here are some key facts about Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 1,050 people work in this occupation.
• Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 80%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 95% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 5% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 63% of heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics work all year, while 37% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 6% of heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 13% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 50% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 28% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology