Air conditioning installers and repairers in France face a severe shortage of qualified workers despite rising national unemployment and record demand for indoor cooling. In summer 2026, which has already seen three successive heatwaves, demand for installations has surged. Maxime Bouvet, an air conditioning maintenance technician in Aubervilliers, Seine-Saint-Denis, said high demand and climate change have led to constant requests for installations, with his team expected to fit about 100 units this year, as shown in a TF1 20H news report.
The surge in demand has encouraged career changes, including Bouvet's colleague Benjamin, a former ride-hail driver. Speaking to TF1, Benjamin said driving a VTC vehicle for 10 to 12 hours a day kept him working nights, Sundays, and public holidays, preventing him from watching his children grow up. He now works weekdays with weekends off and occasional travel, earning an average net monthly salary of 2,000 to 2,500 euros, which is about one third higher than the minimum wage.
Recruitment difficulties and empty positions
Attractive salaries have not resolved hiring difficulties for employers in the sector. Karim Dupont, a construction manager and young business manager, said his truck, tools, clients, and job sites are ready, but he lacks technicians. Dupont has been trying without success since April to recruit two or three air conditioning installers, despite offering concessions.
Dupont said job candidates propose their own salary during interviews, leaving employers to accept or decline in a highly competitive market. He added that he works hard to retain technicians because they are so scarce, noting that his order book is full one and a half years in advance.
Job search platforms show a very high number of listings for air conditioning installers and repair technicians. One platform contacted regarding the shortage said training capacity would need to at least double to produce enough qualified technicians to meet current market demand.
