Report Reveals Increasing Demand for Technicians
TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit focused on workforce development in the automotive industry, recently released its 2021 Transportation Technician Supply & Demand Report, revealing that by 2025 demand for new technicians is estimated to outpace supply by five to one.
The report supplements the Foundation’s previous reports, adjusting prior projections to reflect research from the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Energy, Vehicle Technologies Office, and TechForce’s own analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Citing both increasing demand for professional technicians and a declining supply of new technicians entering the industry, the update concludes that a technician shortage continues to increase, exacerbated by the COVID-19 driven decrease in post-secondary training enrollments.
Findings show the demand for technicians nearly doubled from 136,503 in 2020 to 258,000 in 2021 while training program completions in 2020 were only 48,000. By 2025, the demand for new automotive, diesel, and collision technicians is expected to rise to 797,530.
To help improve automotive workforce growth, TechForce encourages a focus on increasing awareness and building interest in technician careers amongst high school students and young adults. In addition, the Foundation supports messaging and outreach to dispel outdated notions of the automotive industry and clearly communicate what it means to be a part of rapidly evolving and increasingly sophisticated automotive technology. Reversing the trend is a heavy lift and will require the efforts of individual organizations and the industry to increase training enrollment, offer mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities, and hire and retain employees.
The Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) is committed to supporting and informing those interested in obtaining licensure, outreaching training and industry initiatives, and promoting organizations seeking grants and funding for programs that foster a skilled automotive workforce. Individuals interested in pursuing a career in automotive technology can review licensure and training requirements, learn about scholarship opportunities, and find other helpful information under the Licensees tab at www.bar.ca.gov. Follow BAR on Facebook and Twitter @BARinfo for news and updates on upcoming scholarship application deadlines and other available resources.
To learn more about TechForce and download a copy of the 2021 Technician Supply & Demand Report, visit www.techforce.org.