Read below to learn more about the main factors contributing to the growing technician shortage and possible solutions for the problem.
The ongoing shortage of automotive technicians has been a hot topic among shop owners, dealerships, and industry experts for years. While conventional wisdom has attributed the problem to a lack of interest among younger generations, there are also several other factors at play.
In this article, we will examine the key factors contributing to the current shortage of automotive technicians and explore possible solutions to address the problem.
Declining Interest In Vocational Training
The decreased interest in trade jobs among younger generations is certainly one of the primary contributors to the shortage of automotive technicians. Unfortunately, Millennials and Gen-Zers just aren't joining the trades at the same rate as previous generations. In fact, according to this year's Tech Force Supply And Demand Report, automotive education completions have been on a downward slide since 2012, with an alarming 11.8% drop from 2020 to 2021.
This decline in interest is primarily due to the education system's emphasis on college degrees over vocational training. After the release of the Nation At Risk report in 1983, which exposed the poor quality of education in America, schools shifted their focus towards academics and started pushing students towards four-year universities. While academic emphasis is undeniably important, this shift has led to a decline in vocational education ever since.
Aging Active Workforce
Because fewer people in younger generations have joined the trades, the majority of automotive technicians today are baby boomers and Gen-Xers that entered the industry during the 1970s and 1980s. Which was a time when the demand for skilled labor was high and more heavily encouraged. As a result, there was a surge in people pursuing careers as automotive technicians, many of which have been working in the industry ever since.
As these experienced professionals move into frontline service roles or retire, they take with them a wealth of knowledge and expertise that's difficult to replace. This creates a knowledge gap that must be filled by new talent in order to maintain the level of service and expertise demanded by the industry. The need for skilled technicians becomes even more pressing with the advent of advanced vehicle technologies and the increasing complexity of modern vehicles. With fewer young people joining the trades and more experienced technicians retiring, we find ourselves in the midst of a current shortage of technicians.
Perception Of The Industry
Historically, being an automotive technician has carried a negative image; often perceived as a dirty, low-paying, and physically demanding job. This perception has been reinforced by popular media which often portrays auto repair shops as greasy places filled with dishonest mechanics attempting to take advantage of customers.
However, this perception is far from the truth. Our experience working with hundreds of auto repair shops and dealerships has shown us that the vast majority of shop owners and technicians are hardworking and honest individuals dedicated to offering quality services and serving their communities. High-level automotive technicians especially are extremely intelligent individuals with a truly unique skill set that enables them to employ both hands-on skills and remarkable intellectual capabilities that rival even some of the best lawyers and doctors.
The role that the automotive repair industry plays in keeping people safe and ensuring the mobility of the vehicles they rely on every day is vital, yet often overlooked and wrongfully mischaracterized by popular media.
Compensation
Low wages and non-ideal pay plans also play a significant role in the shortage of automotive technicians. In many cases, the compensation that newer technicians and even experienced technicians receive is equivalent to or even less than they could receive in another industry that's less strenuous and requires less overall work. Plus technicians often also have to invest a significant amount of money to obtain current tools and equipment. As a result, many capable and potentially skilled technicians have been enticed to pursue other industries that seemingly offer more generous salaries + benefits, require lower costs in equipment, and require less physical labor.
Many shop owners and dealerships have caught on to this trend and now offer competitive compensation, but shop and dealership owners that underpay their technicians not only make it extremely hard to attract and retain talent for their business, but also affect the market as a whole. If a technician is working hard and severely underpaid, they are much more easily lured into other industries offering more generous benefits. Further reducing the total number of experienced technicians in the workforce.
Increasing Vehicle Population
The growing vehicle population in the United States, which increases by 3 million every year, is also a significant factor contributing to the rising demand for technicians. Naturally, more vehicles require more technicians, and there are approximately 46% more vehicles on the road now compared to 1990. In addition, people are keeping their vehicles for longer periods of time, and the increased complexity of modern vehicles leads to a greater variety of potential issues, both of which exacerbate the problem.
Furthermore, the intricacy of today's vehicles necessitates specialized training and expertise, which can push technicians to specialize in a specific sector of the industry, such as electric vehicles or even specific car brands like Tesla. This specialization also further diminishes the pool of highly skilled technicians available to work in general automotive repair shops and dealerships.
Solving the Problem
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry, we must work together to develop and implement strategies to attract and retain talented technicians. Shop owners nationwide should focus on providing more professional development opportunities, implementing mentorship and apprenticeship programs, changing pay structures, and offering more competitive salaries and benefits in order to engage future technicians and retain technicians already in the workforce. Additionally, we must work together to change public perception and showcase the industry's potential for fulfilling, well-paying, and intellectually challenging careers.
Luckily, there are also some external factors that may also help us along the way. With advancements in technologies like AI, many white-collar jobs (programming, data entry, accounting, customer service, journalism, etc.) can be easily automated and replaced with technology. In contrast, many trade jobs are far more challenging and expensive to automate, as they require human skills like manual labor, problem-solving, and creativity. As automation reduces the availability and pay of many white-collar, trade jobs may become more valuable and higher compensated. This shift could potentially encourage future students to pursue trade schools instead of 4-year degrees and also reshape the public perception of these careers.
Although the technician shortage won’t be resolved overnight, these trends and a united effort from the industry may turn things around. By addressing the root causes of the shortage and implementing effective solutions, we can ensure that the automotive repair industry has the talent it needs to meet the demands of the future.
In Closing
If you’re struggling to find qualified technicians for your shop or dealership, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team of recruiting experts specialize in finding technicians for auto repair shops and dealerships all over the U.S. Whether you hire our team to find your next technician or we're able to simply provide you with some tips to do it yourself, we'd be happy to connect and help however we can. Schedule a quick call today to learn how we can help you meet your staffing needs and ensure your business thrives in the face of the technician shortage.
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