July 11, 2022
It is not only difficult to buy a new car nowadays – it is getting harder to get one fixed too. There are not enough workers doing this work. Dealers and car service shops struggle to hire and retain technicians and other workers in service departments. Dealers find it particularly hard to keep service consultants who interface with customers and service managers. Auto dealers and many industries feel the effects of what some call The Great Resignation when workers leave their jobs at high rates.
Industry analysts say that low wages, a lack of clearly defined career paths, and generational turnover away from skilled trade jobs are making it harder to recruit and keep people in the trades for the long haul. Meanwhile, industry insiders say the transition to electric vehicles makes it one of the most exciting times to consider a career in automotive technology since the dawn of the industry. But even before then, there was the persistent, decades-long shortage of automotive technicians – people who repair cars. Some are hopeful that studying cutting-edge technologies could help draw workers back into the field.