Americans have had a long love affair with their vehicles, but we are also dependent on them. The privately owned vehicle has evolved in complexity far beyond most individuals’ ability to maintain these. That means we are also dependent on auto technicians, which is easy to overlook until we need one. It’s in  our interest to get ahead of the talent shortage before that dependency is critical.

The staggering levels of student loan debt typically spark suggestions that students should consider learning a trade. One trade often goes overlooked, despite a growing shortage: the auto technician.

Shortage estimates for auto techs vary, but most are high. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the repair community will fall short by an average of 68,000 auto technicians every year for the next decade.

Similarly, a report from the TechForce Foundation, a non-profit that advocates for the profession, forecasts the industry will employ 178,000 new technicians between 2022 and 2026. That’s far short of the 413,000 technicians the report estimates will be needed.

The shortage has been harsh for employers in the independent repair shops segment, where about 70% of the total service and repair capacity in the U.S. rests.  At conferences, such as the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), which attracts 45,000 attendees from across the $2.3 trillion aftermarket global supply chain, attendees are vocal about the shortage.

When I ask how many participants work for businesses looking to hire more technicians, invariably, every single person in the room raises their hand.

Why Is America Short of Auto Techs?

The shortage is caused by a confluence of factors. Among the most prominent are the growing demand for aftermarket auto service and repair, an aging technician workforce and an outdated perception of what it means to be an auto technician.

Let’s unpack each of those factors.

First, Americans are exceedingly dependent on their vehicles for transportation. There are nearly 300 million privately owned vehicles on the roads today. People are hanging onto these vehicles longer, and older vehicles generally need more repairs.

The average age of light trucks in the U.S. is 11.9 years, according to S&P Global Mobility. For automobiles, the average age grows to 14.5, resulting in a combined average age of 12.8 years. Since new-car prices are forecasted to jump, many consumers will delay buying new cars, so the average ages are poised to grow. In turn, the demand for service and auto technicians will also increase.  

Second, the technician workforce is aging. A data analysis by the career site Zippia puts the average age of an auto technician at 40 years old. Many are older and beginning to retire. This adds to the talent shortage.

Finally, and arguably most significantly, the conventional perception of an auto technician is passé. Too many view the profession as greasy wrench-turners grinding away on hourly wages. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The automobile today is a technological wonder. Vehicles are filled with complicated circuits, chips and electronics – in addition to mechanical parts that are engineered to fit compactly. Some modern vehicles have more lines of software code than even a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. As a result, the modern auto technician is a mechanic, a problem solver, a diagnostician and increasingly, a technologist. 

Consumers Will Bear the Consequences of Inaction

Many of us take auto service and repairs for granted. We are fortunate to be able to bring these complex machines into the shop of our choosing, get an accurate diagnosis, replacement parts and the skilled labor we need to get us back on the road, often in just mere hours. By comparison, try doing that with a broken washing machine or a refrigerator.

If we can’t add more talent, consumers will have fewer choices about where to take their vehicles. They will also experience longer turnaround times for repairs. Lastly, the cost of servicing a vehicle will rise, as a labor shortage puts upward pressure on compensation.

This will add to the inflationary pressures with which many of us already grapple – and that concerns policymakers. It’s especially challenging for those unexpected costs associated with essential repair work necessary to keep the vehicle safely operational.

How to Address the Auto Tech Talent Shortage

This problem is solvable – and there are three primary ways we can address the shortfall.

The American consumer’s ability to fix their own vehicle has become increasingly more difficult. Today, every vehicle is composed of a unique array of thousands of parts that require a combination of sophisticated diagnostic equipment, training and experience to maintain and repair. The skills and knowledge to perform this work are challenging.This presents an opportunity for young people, or those considering a change, to embark on a rewarding career. There are plenty of immediate job openings and ample room for growth. Those who accumulate the skills and possess the entrepreneurial desire can go on to achieve the classic American dream of opening their own independent repair shop.

There’s an unfortunate indictment against the trades when young people are pondering their careers. America tends to tell our students, “You have to go to a four-year college to be successful.” Yet many of those college graduates finish with staggering student loan debt and have a hard time finding gainful employment.A good alternative for some is to start a career in the trades. We should redouble our efforts to provide shop classes at the high school level. Such programs raise awareness of the opportunity for those interested in attending vocational or trade schools.Further, we should encourage students to consider applying to vocational schools to kickstart a viable career. This means setting up the same programs, guidance and consultations currently offered to students interested in pursuing a four-year degree.

Like all trades, future auto technicians should have access to the same financial resources available to pursue their careers as traditional college students. This means developing ways for trade-school students to access scholarships and federal financial aid. Likewise, apprentice programs should match those for college at the state and federal levels.It’s worth noting that there is bipartisan support for some of this. For example, Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) and Chuck Edwards (R-NC) sponsored a provision included in the One Big Beautiful Bill that expanded the qualified use of 529 savings plans. The final legislation also protected Pell Grant protections for qualifying technical education programs.

From a policy perspective, the return on investment is considerable. With just two years of vocational school, graduates can be gainfully employed in a skill for which there is demand, with the financial means to square their debt and pay income tax.

A Collective Interest in Solving the Talent Shortage

Americans have had a long love affair with their vehicles, but we are also dependent on them. Privately owned vehicles have evolved in complexity far beyond most individuals’ ability to maintain them. That means we are also dependent on auto technicians, which is easy to overlook until we need one. It’s in our interest to get ahead of the talent shortage before that dependency becomes critical.

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