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05 Apr, 2023
The complexity of vehicle technology is only increasing, and the average age of technicians is slowly creeping higher. As an automotive repair shop, we know this whether you want to acknowledge it or not. The industry has dealt with a technician shortage for decades. However, as we enter a world without pandemic restrictions, attitudes toward work have changed. It’s harder to find qualified technicians, let alone, get people to show up to work. If this is your gripe, we feel your pain. But the real question is, what is the industry doing about it? They are leaving it to the repair shops to pick up the lack of support from our Schools and Corporate America.  At Greg’s Garage, in Reno, NV our entry level mechanics are allowed four (4) years to develop their skills and tools. This is one of the few industries that require employees to purchase their own tools, plus add-on a regular basis to stay up with technology and now with a bigger toolbox or storage box. Repairing a vehicle requires knowledge in multiple systems, such-as: Heating/cooling, Alignment/suspension, Electrical/electronics, Mechanical/hydraulics, Lighting/sensors, plus Ignition/fuel systems. The list goes on because the job requires diagnostics that is self-taught via manuals or classes with expensive test equipment. Mechanics attend 30-50 hours of training each year just to stay up on certifications and technical classes. A repair shop can only afford 1-3 entry level mechanics because of the cost to adequately prepare them. The High Schools no longer have industrial Arts, so the kids that want to work with their hands will have to wait until they graduate. Then they can attend a Trade School or Community College that will give them the education needed to just enter the field as an apprentice, so we are talking about another six (6) years after graduation before they become profitable. In the end, the technician shortage will cost us more because there is not enough of them!
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