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Vehicle technician future shortage is worse than anticipated

Nov 15, 2017 Repair, Automotive Aftermarket, Workshop, Mechanic, Jobs, Training


According to an article on Motor Age, the TechForce Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on championing and aiding aspiring vehicle technicians, recently released a paper that highlights the very real shortage of vehicle technicians.

“Transportation Technician New Entrant Demand” was based on an analysis of the US Bureau of Labour Statistics’ (BLS) data, and found that the severity is far more pronounced than previously reported. The findings indicate that from last year until 2026, technician requirements are over 3 times its former estimates for the period between 2014 and 2024. “New entrant” technicians are described as those that are needed to fill the growth in new positions in the occupation as well as replace those who leave the occupation. They are distinguished from experienced technicians who may move between employers but don’t add to the overall trained workforce in the occupation.


The writers found that the annual new entrant demand is for 75,900 auto technicians for that 10 year period. And the demand for collision and diesel technicians is similar. For the collision market, the newly projected BLS average annual new entrant demand is 17,200 technicians compared to the previous projection of 4,810.

According to the report the technician shortage has grown to the point of the “perfect storm”  thanks to three things, according to Greg Settle, one of the co-authors of the report and TechForce Director of National Initiatives. “We’re caught in the middle of a strong growing economy, a ‘catch-up’ demand for technicians created by the Great Recession of 2008 and the increasing complexity of vehicles.”


Jennifer Maher, CEO/Executive Director of TechForce, added: “In order to solve the tech shortage, the industry needs to pool its resources and create and disseminate consistent public messaging highlighting the many and varied opportunities of a tech career. Right now, the industry is suffering from inadequate, fragmented financing for the cause. It’s not enough for us to talk among ourselves, we have to pull together as an industry to first, resolve it, and then to stay ahead of it so we never wind up in this position again.”

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