Working to Ensure a Future-Ready Workforce

As Canada accelerates its transition to a low-carbon economy, the rapid growth of residential heat pump adoption is reshaping the HVACR landscape. For contractors, educators, and industry stakeholders, one thing is clear: workforce readiness is essential.

In 2024, HRAI launched the Bridging the Skills Gap for Heat Pump Proficiency project to better understand whether the residential workforce was fully prepared to meet the technical demands of modern heat pump systems. The initiative began with a comprehensive Skills Gap Assessment in Ontario, followed by the development of targeted curriculum and a training pilot delivered in partnership with five colleges. The project successfully wrapped up in June 2025, providing valuable insight into current knowledge gaps and practical training needs.

But the work isn’t stopping there.

With new funding support from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), HRAI is expanding its efforts through the HRAI Residential Heat Pump Workforce Readiness Initiative — a national step forward designed to strengthen technical capacity across multiple regions.

This next phase includes:

  • Two new regional Skills Gap Assessments — one in the Atlantic Region and one in British Columbia.
  • Revisions and enhancements to the Ontario-developed curriculum to reflect instructor and participant feedback.
  • An expanded Ontario training pilot involving additional colleges, along with training subsidies for technicians and their employers to encourage participation.

Why the regional focus? Because the residential HVACR workforce looks different across the country. In Atlantic Canada and British Columbia, much of residential heat pump installation and service are carried out by a broad mix of tradespeople with varied credentials and experience. That means the initial research, while valuable, may not fully reflect the skill sets or training gaps in other regions.

The revised Ontario curriculum will be offered and the costs will be offset with subsidies, helping to reduce barriers to upskilling

Project outcomes lead to significant benefits with broad implications. The assessments will provide region-specific data to better inform curriculum design, training delivery, and broader workforce development strategies. For contractors and employers, training is aligned with real-workforce needs. For colleges and instructors, it means more precise tools to support student success. And for the industry at large, it supports safer installations, higher-performing systems, and greater consumer confidence.

As demand for residential heat pumps continues to grow, ensuring technicians are properly trained isn’t just about meeting market demand — it’s about protecting quality, safety, and long-term industry credibility.

HRAI will continue to share updates on this project. For more information, please check out the project page or contact Stephanie Meyer, Project Manager. 

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