TechForce: Number of Automotive Students Increasing, and Repair Industry Must Act
TechForce’s 2024 Supply & Demand report showed that there is an increasing number of students pursuing automotive technician training—but some effort is needed from the industry as a whole to ensure they are retained.
According to Automotive Dive, the number of students pursuing automotive technician training increased for the second year in a row. In addition to more students finding alternatives to four-year degrees, the increasing electrification of the automotive field has attracted talent from high-tech industries.
These factors have worked in the auto repair field’s favor—however, TechForce Foundation CEO Jennifer Maher added that young people entering the workforce are seeking a standard from their employer that, if needed, they will find in fields besides auto repair.
Maher believes that shops can better retain top talent through offering higher compensation for entry-level roles and having a supportive workplace culture.
“There’s a lot of employers who really believe you’ve got to pay your dues and work on the lube rack for several years,” explained Maher. “The problem with that is, this is a gaming generation and an information generation, so they want to know how quickly they can master and go up.”
Though the number of students training to be automotive technicians is rising, so too is the demand for technicians. Between 2024-2028, TechForce estimates the demand to rise to over 471,000.
TechForce projects a need for over 89,000 new automotive technician roles in 2028, with 71,671 of those roles expected to be as a result of retirements and turnover, and the remainder attributed to industry growth.
As more students look to the auto repair field, it’s imperative that shops work to attract top talent—otherwise, they will likely gravitate to other industries offering them better benefits.
"Every other industry is poaching from the same pipeline," told Maher. "It’s the same kid they all want, whether you go diesel or you go to wind turbines. They’re all looking for these kids who want to take it apart, put it back together, problem solve, work with their hands."
