With Record-High Temperatures in Hokkaido,
Demand for Air Conditioners Surges... But Installation Technicians Remain in Short Supply
As the demand for air conditioners has surged due to the heatwave in Japan, companies related to air conditioning are intensifying training for both students at technical high schools and current installation technicians.
On August 3, the Sankei Shimbun reported that even in Hokkaido, which used to have relatively cool summers, heatwaves have become commonplace, prompting companies to strengthen their countermeasures in response to the increasing demand for air conditioners. In Sapporo, Hokkaido, the average temperature for July this year was 25.8 degrees Celsius, a 2.5-degree increase compared to the previous year, marking the hottest July on record. In some areas, temperatures even exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.
According to a survey by Daikin Industries, a manufacturer of air conditioners, the air conditioner penetration rate in Hokkaido, Japan, is less than 60%. Although this is still below the national average of over 90%, it has increased significantly over the past decade, considering that a 2014 government survey showed a rate of 26.6%.
The issue is that, due to the long-standing low penetration rate of air conditioners, there is a shortage of skilled technicians responsible for installation work. As a result, Japanese electronics companies such as Daikin and Panasonic are focusing on fostering installation technicians in Hokkaido.
Daikin Industries donated training air conditioners to Asahikawa Technical High School in Hokkaido. Since February this year, installation training has been incorporated into the school's curriculum. The company plans to expand similar activities to other high schools in the region in the future.
Panasonic is expanding training for installation technicians, and the number of participants in this training for fiscal year 2024 increased more than fourfold compared to the previous year. This year, the company plans to provide training at the same level or even more than last year.
Mitsubishi Electric is also conducting training in various regions of Japan, including Wakkanai, Obihiro, Hakodate, Sapporo, and Asahikawa. Recently, the company has also started "on-site installation training," in which trainers visit the workplaces of installation technicians directly.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, hot weather is expected to continue in Hokkaido throughout August, and demand for air conditioners is likely to keep increasing. Panasonic stated, "We want to further strengthen training for installation technicians in line with the increasing demand in Hokkaido."
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