Auto Industry Looks to High Schools for Future Mechanics
The car repair industry is dealing with what’s described as a “critical” shortage of skilled automobile technicians. The result, according to dealers, is longer wait times at local repair shops and higher prices on labor.
According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the industry needs approximately 37,000 more trained technicians than it currently has.
But a career fest at the Twin Cities Auto Show is trying to turn things around. More than 50 dealerships attended the “Career in Cars” job fair.
Representatives from dealerships pulled out all the stops to try and attract students to future technician jobs. Incentives range from covering tuition costs to providing better job placement after graduation.
“We have reached out to a lot of the Twin Cities high schools,”said Scott Lambert, organizer and president of the Greater Metro Auto Dealers Association. “We expect well over 550 young adults and people looking for careers to interact with dealership personal and talk to them about careers they can make.”
“Career in Cars” Job Fair
Future Mechanics Have Options
Osseo Senior Sawyer Saunders and other students interested in a job in the automobile industry know they are in the driver’s seat when it comes to their careers.
“They want you. It’s a good job,” said Saunders.
Osseo’s automobile technology instructor Deontae Miller hopes the event gives students the chance to make connections they can use in the future.
“The possibility, the opportunity, coming here, and meeting new people, meeting dealerships and stuff like that, it just opens the kids eyes up,” said Miller.
Saunders has his eyes on following his family into the automobile business.
“Hopefully, have a big body shop that’s known,” said Saunders. “My idea is have an all-in-one detail, tinting, mechanic, just the all-in-one so you don’t have to drive places.”
Lambert says it’s not just technicians that are in high demand at dealerships, but also jobs in sales and clerical work.
This is the 4th year for Career in Cars.
Osseo Student Sawyer Saunders.
Also See: Osseo Students Get to Rebuild a Mustang Engine
Osseo Senior High School
