This page provides information and data on the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning sector, which is a component of the Electrotechnology industry.
The Refrigeration and Air-conditioning sector includes the installation, maintenance and repair of both domestic and commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning. The Refrigeration and Air-conditioning workforce is employed in industries such as Construction Services and Repairs and Maintenance.
Vocational education and training (VET) is required for Refrigeration and Air-conditioning sector related occupations such as:
Nationally recognised training for the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning sector is delivered under the UEE – Electrotechnology Training Package.
For information on Electrical Engineering, Electrical Services, Electronics and Computers, Industrial Control and Renewable and Sustainable Energy sectors please visit the respective pages.
All data sources are available at the end of the page.
The employment level for Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics increased by 55% overall between 2002 and 2022. There was a sharp increase from around 25,400 in 2018 to 36,400 in 2019, however employment levels in 2022 have declined to 25,200. Projections indicate that employment levels in 2026 will return to 30,800 a figure similar to the small spike seen in 2021.
Program enrolments have increased each year since 2018 to a new five year high of approximately 8590 in 2021. Completions increased to 2,140 in 2021 from a low of around 1875 during 2019 after peaking at approximately 2,410 in 2018.
During 2021, approximately three quarters (72%) of enrolments were at the certificate III level, specifically in the Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration which has the intended occupation of an Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic. The majority of remaining enrolments occurred at the certificate II level (26%), in the Certificate II in Split Air-conditioning and Heat Pump Systems which has the intended occupation of Electrical or Telecommunications Trades Assistant.
For enrolments during 2021, training provider type varied significantly between different qualifications. For example, most of the training for the Certificate II in Split Air-conditioning and Heat Pump Systems was delivered by private training providers (87%), whereas for the Diploma of Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering and the Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration, most of the training was provided by TAFE institutes (96% and 80% respectively).
The funding source for subjects differed substantially by provider type in 2021, with subjects provided by TAFE institutes (95%) and Universities (100%) predominantly funded by Commonwealth and state. In contrast, most subjects delivered by private training providers (83%) were on a domestic fee for service basis.
Students who enrolled in Refrigeration and Air-conditioning related qualifications during 2021 were mainly from New South Wales (33%), Queensland (30%) and Victoria (17%), and training was also largely delivered in Queensland (42%), New South Wales (31%), and Victoria (14%).
From a low of approximately 970 in 2012 apprenticeship commencements increased to roughly 1,660 in 2017, followed by a slight decline to around 1,550 in 2018. Commencement numbers have increased since then to reach a peak of 1,840 in 2021. Apprenticeship completions increased between 2012 and 2014, before declining the following year; however they have continued to gradually increase since then to around 930 in 2021.
All apprentices in training as at December 2021 were training towards the intended occupation of Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic, with training mainly reported by New South Wales (41%), Queensland (29%) and Victoria (17%).
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According to the Electrotechnology IRC’s 2021 Industry Outlook, COVID-19 adversely affected the industry with many businesses reporting moderate to significant impacts. A significant number of apprenticeships were suspended or terminated due to the pandemic and skilled migration was extensively disrupted, resulting in a shortage of qualified electrotechnology tradespeople in the near future.
The Electrotechnology IRC’s 2020 Skills Forecast reports that the government decided to reduce hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions from January 1 2018, with a long term target of reducing HFCs by 85% by 2036. HFCs are synthetic greenhouse gases mainly used in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. Instead of HFCs, more environmentally friendly synthetic and natural refrigerants will be used in new refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. These new refrigerants are potentially more flammable and toxic to humans and operate at higher pressures than HFCs, creating demand for new knowledge and skills in safely using these substances within the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning workforce.
The South Australian Training and Skills Commission’s Construction, Mining & Energy Workforce Insights report found that while Employers reported attracting many applications for their advertised vacancies for air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, they were unable to recruit sufficient suitable workers due to lack of specific experience.
According to the Electrotechnology IRC’s 2020 Skills Forecast, skill development is required across the industry to ensure understanding and knowledge of the associated risks with new technologies and to ensure adequate safety training in the operation, installation and maintenance of these updated systems. In order to meet the skill requirements of these alternative refrigerants, the UEE Electrotechnology Training Package Release 2 will contain updated Refrigeration and Air Conditioning qualifications, Skills Sets and Units of Competency.
For an analysis of Electrotechnology IRC priority skills and job vacancy data, see the Electrotechnology industry cluster page.
Below is a list of industry-relevant research, organisations and associations. Hyperlinks have been included where available.
Electrotechnology IRC
Electrotechnology IRC’s 2020 Skills Forecast (abridged annual update)
Australian Industry Standards – Skilled Service Organisation.
Budget 2019-2020: Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow: Skills Package Fact Sheet – Australian Government
Construction, Mining and Energy Workforce Insights - South Australian Training and Skills Commission
Elevating our Education – Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH)
Environmental scan 2015 - E-Oz Energy Skills Australia
Review of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Program – Department of the Environment and Energy
Air-conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association
ANZETA Electrotechnology Training Alliance
Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air-conditioning and Heating
Australian Refrigeration Mechanics Association
National Electrical and Communications Association
National Electrical Switchboard Manufacturers Association
NSW Utilities & Electrotechnology Industry Training Advisory Body
Australian Refrigeration Council
Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council
National Skills Commission 2022, Occupation Employment Projections viewed 10 August 2022, https://www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au/topics/employment-projections
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022, 6291.0.55.001 - EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards, viewed 1 August 2022, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/may-2022
Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET Students and Courses from the following training package or qualifications:
UEE/UEE11 Electrotechnology Training Package
This includes superseded qualifications and training packages.
Data covers a range of selected student and training characteristics in the following categories and years:
Total VET students and courses data is reported for the calendar year. Program enrolments are the qualifications, courses and skill-sets in which students are enrolled in a given period. For students enrolled in multiple programs, all programs are counted. Program completion indicates that a student has completed a structured and integrated program of education or training. Location data uses student residence. Subject enrolment is registration of a student at a training delivery location for the purpose of undertaking a module, unit of competency or subject. For more information on the terms and definitions, please refer to the Total VET students and courses: terms and definitions document.
Low counts (less than 5) are not reported to protect client confidentiality.
Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. This can lead to situations where the total sum of proportions in a chart may not add up to exactly 100%.
UEE/UEE11 – Electrotechnology Training Package apprentice and trainee data has been extracted from the National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, including:
