What’s Holding Up the HVAC Industry?

This is mostly industry news about a labor shortage in HVAC and sheet metal trades, and a shift in how installers hang ductwork. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects around 40,100 openings a year for HVAC mechanics through 2034, and the sheet metal trade group SMACNA says about 35,000 sheet metal workers are nearing retirement, with only two new workers entering for every five who leave. Contractors are responding partly by changing how they work, not just who they hire.

One change is swapping traditional threaded rod and metal framing (called strut) for cable suspension systems to hang ductwork. Cable is lighter to carry, needs less cutting and on-site fabrication, and lets installers adjust height more easily, which can speed up jobs. One contractor example cited a 150-foot duct run where switching to cable cut installation time by more than a day, an estimated 60% labor savings. The technology is also spreading beyond ductwork into things like VAV boxes (devices that control airflow) and air handlers, and is showing up more in custom homes with vaulted ceilings that lack easy mounting surfaces.

For a homeowner, this isn't a program or rebate you'd apply for. It's a look at how contractors are adapting to fewer available workers, largely through jobsite efficiency rather than new equipment you'd choose. If you're planning a renovation with exposed ductwork or vaulted ceilings, faster installation methods like this could show up in a contractor's approach, but there's no direct action or incentive here tied to your own home.