Texas continues to grow, and that growth creates a need for workers who can build, maintain, repair, and support the infrastructure used by the state’s expanding population and businesses. From HVAC technicians and electricians to plumbers and construction professionals, skilled trades play an essential role in keeping homes, businesses, and communities operating.
Texas Workforce Commission projections show substantial growth in several skilled trade occupations through 2032. Electrician employment is projected to increase 20.3%, while employment for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to grow 19.3%. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are projected to grow 13.5%.
Understanding what’s driving this demand can help people considering a career change or entering the workforce determine whether a skilled trade may be worth exploring.
Texas Is Adding People, Homes, and Businesses
Population and economic growth create a ripple effect throughout the skilled trades.
New homes need electrical, plumbing, heating, and cooling systems. New restaurants and grocery stores require refrigeration equipment. Offices, schools, healthcare facilities, warehouses, and other commercial properties need technicians who can install and maintain essential building systems.
Existing buildings also require regular maintenance and repairs. HVAC systems break down, electrical systems need upgrades, and equipment eventually needs to be replaced. That means demand for skilled workers isn’t limited to new construction.
As Texas communities continue developing, the workers responsible for maintaining that infrastructure remain an important part of the state’s workforce.
HVAC Professionals Are Part of That Growth
Texas’s climate makes heating and cooling systems particularly important for homes and businesses. HVAC technicians work with the systems that control indoor temperatures, ventilation, and air quality, while refrigeration professionals maintain cooling systems used in businesses such as restaurants, grocery stores, and other commercial facilities.
The Texas Workforce Commission projects employment of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers to increase from approximately 21,239 workers in 2022 to 25,340 in 2032. That’s an increase of about 4,100 positions, or 19.3%.
Those projections don’t guarantee employment for an individual worker, but they provide useful context for understanding where employers may continue to need skilled professionals.
Other Skilled Trades Are Growing, Too
HVAC isn’t the only trade projected to grow in Texas.
Texas Workforce Commission data identifies several construction-related occupations expected to add thousands of positions between 2022 and 2032. Electricians are projected to add approximately 9,700 positions, while plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are projected to add about 4,100. Employment for construction trade supervisors and construction equipment operators is also projected to increase.
These occupations perform different types of work, but they have something important in common: they require workers with specialized technical skills that are difficult to replace with general knowledge alone.
Skilled Trades Require Practical, Specialized Knowledge
Many skilled trades involve work that must be performed in person. An HVAC system can’t be repaired remotely, and a refrigeration unit can’t be installed through a computer screen.
Workers need to understand how equipment operates, how to diagnose problems, how to use specialized tools, and how to complete tasks safely. Depending on the occupation, workers may also need licenses or industry certifications.
This emphasis on practical knowledge makes hands-on education especially valuable for people preparing to enter a trade. Classroom instruction can provide the technical foundation, while practical experience allows students to apply those concepts to equipment and situations similar to what they may encounter in the field.
Skilled Trades Can Offer an Alternative to a Four-Year Degree
A four-year college degree is the right path for many careers, but it isn’t the only way to prepare for the workforce.
Career-focused education allows students to concentrate more directly on the technical knowledge and practical skills associated with a particular occupation. For adults changing careers, recent high school graduates, or people who simply prefer hands-on work, that can make skilled trades an appealing option.
The amount of education required varies significantly by occupation. Some careers involve technical school, apprenticeships, certifications, licensing, on-the-job learning, or a combination of these paths. Anyone considering a trade should research the specific requirements for the occupation and state where they plan to work.
Technology Is Changing the Trades
Today’s skilled trades aren’t disconnected from technology. Modern HVAC and refrigeration systems increasingly use electronic controls, programmable systems, diagnostic equipment, and energy-efficient technology.
That means technicians need both mechanical ability and the willingness to continue learning as equipment changes.
For HVAC and refrigeration professionals, environmental regulations also affect how refrigerants are handled. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Section 608 requirements establish certification requirements for technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release regulated refrigerants.
As equipment and regulations evolve, technicians who understand newer systems and continue developing their skills can be better prepared to adapt to changes within their industries.
Is a Skilled Trade Right for You?
Skilled trades can appeal to people who prefer active, hands-on work and enjoy solving practical problems. Many trade professionals work in changing environments rather than sitting at the same desk every day.
You may want to explore a skilled trade if you enjoy understanding how things work, troubleshooting problems, working with tools or equipment, and seeing a tangible result at the end of a project.
It’s also important to understand the realities of the occupation you’re considering. Some trades involve physical work, outdoor environments, tight spaces, travel between job sites, or nontraditional hours. Researching the day-to-day responsibilities can help you decide whether a particular field matches your strengths and expectations.
Preparing for a Skilled Trade Career in Texas
If you’re considering a skilled trade, start by identifying the occupation that interests you and researching its education, certification, and licensing requirements.
For students interested specifically in heating and cooling, ICT offers an HVAC Residential program at its Pasadena, Texas campus. ICT’s current program listings show HVAC Residential as available in Pasadena, providing students in the Houston area with an option for career-focused HVAC education.
Regardless of which trade you choose, understanding the occupation first—and then finding an educational path that teaches the skills employers expect—can help you make a more informed career decision.
Cherlyn Latham is the Director of Employment Services at Interactive College of Technology and has worked with ICT for the last 13 years. She has a Master of Arts degree from Texas Southern University. In her spare time, she is a writer, a film maker, and volunteers with a number of non-profits.