Explore The Trades Presents Plan to Revitalize HVAC Workforce

A Public Television program, "All Access hosted by Andy Garcia," will feature Explore The Trades, a national nonprofit organization focused on revitalizing the HVAC workforce. The segment, filmed on October 2, 2026, in Boca Raton, Florida, will highlight the organization's efforts to reintroduce plumbing, HVAC, and electrical careers to American classrooms amid projected labor demand.

Founded in 2005 by home service contractors, Explore The Trades aims to address the skilled labor gap by engaging students early. Since 2021, their poster kits have reached over 1.3 million students in more than 3,400 school districts. The Skills Lab Program has also provided equipment grants to 53 schools across 21 states, supported by industry partners.

"When a student hears the word 'trades,' we want them to picture diagnostics, innovation, and a spirit of entrepreneurship," said Kate Cinnamo, Executive Director of Explore The Trades. She emphasized the critical role of skilled tradespeople in building and maintaining infrastructure, noting that these careers can evolve from apprentice to business owner.

The feature also touches on the broader context of declining trade education in schools and the subsequent arrival of the predicted labor shortage, expected to persist for at least another decade. The program underscores the need for collaboration between industry and education to promote these essential career paths, which now involve advanced diagnostics and smart building technologies.