Job prospects Refrigeration Mechanic in Ontario

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Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "refrigeration mechanic" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics (NOC 72402) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• The majority work in construction as building equipment contractors

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Ongoing need for repairs and maintenance of buildings
• Construction activity is expected to be favourable across Ontario over the forecast period
• A growing food manufacturing industry requires refrigeration installation services as well as upgrades and maintenance of existing systems
• Air quality awareness has led to upgrades and additions to aging heating, ventilation and air conditioning and air filtration systems

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic, and Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic are compulsory skilled trades in Ontario.

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

• Approximately 23,150 people work in this occupation.
• Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 81%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 92% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 8% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 66% of heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics work all year, while 34% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 14% of heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 11% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 40% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 40% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 6% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology