Finding the Feedstock: Recruiting and Retaining Automotive Service Technicians

To keep pace with the projected need for competent repair technicians during this decade, the automotive service industry must learn to compete effectively with other technical fields to attract, educate, and retain top employees from a shrinking pool of available young people.

In order to be competitive, the image, pay, benefits, and working conditions of the automotive repair technician will have to be improved. This will require an industry-wide effort by new car manufacturers and dealers, the aftermarket, independent shop owners, trade associations, trade publications, educators, and currently employed technicians.