What can we do about the technician shortage?

Technician Mike Heinbaugh (left) and shop owner Bob Gugino (right) diagnose an engine problem with a computerized scanner

As many in the automotive industry near retirement, there will be more jobs to fill than there are technicians to fill them. Although this has been known in our industry for a while, it seems the public is finally taking notice.

The Buffalo News reported that with ever-advancing technology, there’s not only more cars than ever before, but the cars themselves have become more advanced too. This means that not only will we need more technicians, but we’ll need technicians with the knowledge to work on the advancing car technology.

“It’s a very technological world we live in with automobiles,” said Peter DeLacy, vice president and general manager of DeLacy Ford, in the Buffalo News article. “Wrenches are required, but computers are key.”

A regional economist within Buffalo’s New York State Department of Labor said in the same article that automotive technicians are retiring at a faster rate than other jobs, leaving a larger gap between jobs available and those qualified to fill the positions.

What do you think we can do about the technician shortage? How might it change our industry in the future?