Instead of poaching technicians from another shop, consider ‘growing your own'

How have automotive repair shops gotten by in recent years during the technician shortage? Well, they scavenged and poached technicians from shops and dealerships down the road. But now, there simply aren’t enough techs to go around.

Despite there being about 100,000 students in accredited technician programs across the country (ranging from high school freshmen to second year community college students), 20 percent never actually go in to the automotive industry. Yet another 20 percent leave the industry after working in auto repair for just two years, said Mike Coley, ASE Education Foundation president.

“People come into the industry and, sadly, in too many places they get chained to the lube rack. So, it’s like, ‘I thought I was going to have a career — and it wasn’t spinning oil filters,’” he said. “So, we want to educate employers on the right way to grow their own.”

ASE’s Adopt-a-School program is one way to solve these issues. Shops can partner with an accredited school in their area and get that pipeline of qualified students who will be ready to work at their shop upon graduation. The partnering shops are able to go into classrooms and educate students on available career opportunities, as well as provide hands-on experience to the students as part of the program’s work-based learning component.

“We are getting them out and working in the industry while still at school, so they can take the tech knowledge and start transferring it out of their fingertips and become those productive entry-level techs the industry so badly needs,” Coley said.  

ASE’s research has found that students who graduate from accredited programs and who have that work-based experience are more likely to get in the industry and stay in the industry.

“By getting involved in your local program, you’re ensuring a stream of students who will come into this industry and stick,” Coley said.

Interested shops can sign up at the Adopt-A-School section of the ASE Education Foundation website, and they will be provided with a toolkit outlining everything they need to know for partnering with a school in their area. It also includes valuable resources on how to ensure these young technicians succeed in your shop, such as putting a mentorship program in place.