U.S. tech shortage getting steadily worse, new report says

Monday, July 2nd, 2018

There were an estimated 38,829 auto tech graduates in 2016. Demand for new entrants is estimated at 75,900 per year.

The post-secondary supply of aspiring vehicle technicians in the U.S. is simply not keeping up with industry demands, according to a new report from TechForce Foundation.

The non-profit organization focused on developing new technicians has released a “Transportation Technician Supply Report,” which reveals the true nature of the skills shortage in the U.S.

It says data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that an ongoing skills shortage first became truly severe in 2013. The gap between supply and demand has only increased since then.

“With only a small percentage of students interested in going into a skilled trade versus seeking a college degree, the competition among all the skilled trades for those students is fierce,” said Greg Settle, co-author of the report and TechForce’s director of national initiatives. “If you look at auto technicians, they can make a very solid, middle-class income. However, starting wages for auto technicians are among the lowest across the skilled trades, and that is often what young and men and women will focus on when making a career decision.”

Read the full article at AutoServiceWorld.com