Article taken from September 2004 GM Profit & Protection warranty newsletter
Retirement, lack of training, and poor professional image
may be some of the factors creating a nationwide shortage of
automotive technicians. Many dealers are already feeling the
strain.
The United States Department of Labor estimates the shortage
to be near 100,000 by next year, a significant increase over
this years’ figure of 60,000.
This month begins a three part series investigating this issue,
beginning with the professional stigma attached to an automotive
career. Why is it a never-ending battle to recruit employees
to fill technician positions? Why are dealers continually advertising
for qualified service technicians, instead of advertising the
new vehicles on their lot?
Servicing autos could be a lucrative career for many of the
nation’s young people, but a negative opinion of the industry
has prevented that. As the saying goes, “mama’s
don’t want their babies to grow up to be (not cowboys,
but) auto technicians.”
The industry has demanded a higher level of employee than it
did a generation ago. More technology-advanced vehicles require
more technologically skilled service personnel. It is especially
difficult to recruit a computer literate 4.0 GPA student into
one of the industries dealerships, equipped with current cutting
edge information technology.
The dealership is no longer just about a job on the lube rack.
It is about schematic diagrams, computer based programming,
high tech diagnostic equipment and extensive documentation requirements.
The industry must reach beyond the out of date perception of
the automotive dealership, and provide parents, young adults
and educators with the lucrative career possibilities that are
now available.
Last year, Auto Retailing Today commissioned a national telephone
survey to determine what young people’s perceptions are
of a career in automotives.
- 78% of the teachers surveyed had not discussed the value of an automotive job with students.
- 52% of the guidance counselors had not discussed the career.
- Half of the students said they would expect a negative reaction from their friends if they took a position in sales or finance at a dealership.
- 46% of the students expect the same negative reaction about a job as a service technician.
- 58% of the teens knew that auto techs were in big demand, only 53% of the parents knew.
- 69% of the teens knew that a master technician could earn $70,000 to $100,000 per year.
- Only 2% of the students surveyed said they had any interest in an automotive career.
The bottom line: students interested in an automotive career
are being directed elsewhere by adults, parents, teachers and
counselors, to a “real professional job”. Apparently
an automotive career is not considered a lucrative profession?
Many professionals with a bachelor degree from an accredited
university are not pulling down $100,000 a year, or even $80K
or $90K. Interesting prospective.
Dealership service technicians are no longer thought of as grease
monkeys. More time is spent on electronic components than on
greasy, oily mechanical parts.
A majority of the franchised dealerships across the United States
are equipped with the latest in diagnostic and computer equipment,
housed in a clean, well lit and organized facility. Most service
departments maintain certain manufacturer standards. Dark, run
down, cluttered and dirty environments are well below the industry
standard and are becoming a thing of the past.
It would seem that automotive dealerships have challenges ahead:
a huge shortage of qualified technicians, coupled with a negative
stigma of the profession.
Take a walk through your service department; if you were a young
adult just starting out in the work force, would you want to
work there? What can your dealership offer a new employee?
Does your dealership portray a positive work environment, offer
good salaries, descent benefits and intellectual stimulation?
Do your part to change the negative image of the profession.
Manufacturers are addressing the technician shortage partially
through the efforts of the Automotive Youth Educational System,
a program supported financially by 13 automakers. AYES is a
nationwide initiative among dealers, automakers and schools
to prepare students for careers in the automotive industry.
The organization works with the automakers to train technicians
through dealership mentorship in conjunction with classroom
work.
Next month we will investigate technician training and retention.
© J&L Warranty Pros™
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