‘We definitely need more people’: Nebraska HVAC and refrigeration companies facing shortage

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry is in dire need of labor right now in Nebraska.

According to the Nebraska Statewide Workforce and Educational Reporting System, 90% of the demand for those jobs cannot be met by the state’s labor supply.

Some companies are feeling the brunt of that, like Hometown Hero Appliance Repair.

“It’s an industry that we definitely need more people,” Ali Zangeneh said.

He’s one of Hometown Hero’s three technicians in Lincoln.

“We average about eight to nine calls, which is a good amount.”

The unemployment rate in Nebraska is 2.8%, which is one of the lowest in the country.

But there is a shortage of workers in many industries.

Research finds that part of the reason is simple demographics: lower birth rates and aging populations.

But, for HVAC businesses, the owner of Dave’s Heating and Air said one factor that could play into this shortage is the physical toll.

He said younger workers aren’t used to that.

“This younger generation has not been accustomed to the physical labor side,” Dave Cunning said. “I think they might have shied away from some of the trades because it does involve physical labor.”

But Cunning said his business is making progress in battling this shortage. It’s increased staffing by 25% in the last year.

Hometown Hero said it’s paying people to sign up for apprenticeships to get more workers in the pipeline.

“We actually offer full apprenticeships programs,” Zangeneh said. “Even if it’s a person that’s never touched an appliance before, we go through the full program to teach them, which we cover.”