Ohio ranks second in the nation among the top states to work in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR), according to industry data and insights from Emerson Climate Technologies.

The HVACR industry is facing a shortage of qualified technicians, with needs for an additional 57,000 skilled workers each year to work in the industry, according to the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute.

Emerson created the list after talking to contractors and HVACR students and instructors about what motivates young people to pursue careers in the industry, according to a media release.

Ohio ranked second to California, with fewer sunny days, but more opportunities for training, officials said. Ohio boasts the most accredited HVACR schools in the country. The state also is in the national top 10 for the number of wholesaler locations.

The other top 10 states included Florida, Texas, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina and Georgia.

Emerson’s top 10 ranking draws on HVACR salary and employment data from the U.S. Department of Labor; trade school locations recognized by the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation; heating and cooling degree days calculated at DegreeDays.net; residential home values from the U.S. Census; and certified contractors by state from North American Technical Excellence. Emerson also draws on its own data to look at wholesaler locations and commercial service volumes from its ProAct Service Center.

Emerson Climate Technologies, a business unit of St. Louis-based Emerson, is headquartered in Sidney, Ohio.