Every year, studies are conducted on the collision repair industry focusing on the issue of a shortage of qualified technicians. There are handful of reasons for the shortage—some anecdotal, some based in fact. But what is usually missing is a suggestion of how to solve the problem.

So, what’s the answer? One solution is the development of a knowledgeable workforce through technical education. With the growing vehicle diversity and complexity (see article on pp. 8–9), however, it’s become a challenge to provide the necessary educational tools and personal knowledge to help keep pace with the increasing complexity of today’s vehicles. To understand the size and complexity of the issue, we’ve talked to experts to see what is being done today, as well as looking for ways that the automotive claims and collision repair industries can get involved to further improve education within the industry.

Opportunity Knocking
In order to address any problem, a first step is to identify its root cause. While it’s a somewhat of an oversimplification, one of the major reasons for the technician shortage—according to the US Department of Labor—is an aging workforce. An estimated 50% of the people working in the industry are going to be eligible for retirement in the next seven to 12 years. The second part of that answer is that able-bodied people are leaving the occupation.

I-CAR Education Foundation Executive Director Ron Ray has taken an in-depth look at the technician shortage for the last decade with the Foundation’s triennial survey and report, named the Snapshot of the Collision Industry. The Snapshot provides industry data to highlight important trends and looks to see what can be done to retain current technicians, recruit new technicians and support school-to-work programs. “The 2004 report shows that almost 18,000 technicians left the industry through turnover and turnout,” said Ray. “That’s 9.1% of the total technician pool. Compared to some industries, that’s not very high. But smaller businesses stand to be greatly impacted. One out of every three shop owners said they would have hired at least one more technician if they’d been available.”

Knowing that repair facilities are actively looking for qualified technicians is a positive sign if you’re an interested student that has the will and the talent, says Tony Molla, Vice President of communications for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and vice chair of the Special Presentations Committee for the Collision Industry Conference (CIC). “The Department of Labor cites the automotive service sector as a site of major growth into the future. Growth is good,” said Molla. “But along with that growth, there is an added emphasis on being able to receive quality training. That’s a result of growing vehicle complexity. There is a definite educational need, and it’s important to get actively involved.”

Bob Medved, a Senior Claims Instructor at State Farm Insurance, believes now is the time to take advantage of these factors and get to the students. “Due to overarching changes in the collision industry, there are now all kinds of new careers that weren’t out there 10 or 20 years,” said Medved. “There is a need for qualified estimators, office managers, production managers, area managers, zone managers and other positions—all the way up to the corporate level.”

In order to meet those diversified workforce needs, Medved said the curriculum should reflect the reality of today’s service needs. “Students today are interested in skilled trades now more than ever because of television shows like Monster Garage and Overhaulin’,” said Medved. “Kids are interested. So while they’re interested, why not show them the reality of it and what they can do with their life?” he said. “Reality will weed out the students who don’t want to be there, who are just there for easy credit or to get their car painted.”

Molla concurs that it’s important to get to the students while they’re in school. “Entry-level people get the best shot at instruction while they’re in school. We as an industry need to pay attention and get involved. ASE’s non-profit arm (NATEF—the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, which evaluates training programs to make sure they meet industry standards) puts together shop owners, manufacturers, insurers—all the people who have stake in getting quality repair—and establishes standards of what schools should be teaching an entry-level person by the end of a training program.”

The I-CAR Education Foundation—with the help of several other industry participants has developed the PACE+ST3 program (People Actively Creating Employability through Short-Term Task Training) to help build a more formal structure for high schools offering collision repair. The program is designed to work with instructors so that students in their junior year learn tasks ina minimum of four key skill areas—R&R bolted parts, prep for paint, final detailing and minor dent repair. With these skills, the students would for all intents and purposes be prepared to work for a repair facility as an intern or as a summer job and be productive, versus a liability. Additional skills are then learned in their senior year to prepare them for continued employment after graduation, or post-secondary education.

The secondary education opportunities, however, are getting tougher to come by. I-CAR’s Ray makes note of the fact that federal and state education budget shortfalls have forced “a steady reduction of career education courses over the last 20 years,” placing the onus of developing qualified technicians onto community colleges and proprietary schools with collision repair and refinishing training programs, and specific class offerings provided by I-CAR and other providers.

A Call to Action
According to Ray, one of the keys is to see how to get involved. “The most effective technical programs have direct involvement from the local industry advising instructors and administration on what the industry needs,” said Ray. “It’s common at the high school level to have an advisory committee represented by employees of paint companies, information providers, insurance industry employees and local shop owners, advising the program and reviewing its curriculum.

“Active participants are from all segments of the collision industry, and it should be that way,” remarked Ray. “There are several ways to contribute to the betterment of pre-employment education. Whether you’re helping with donations to a not-for-profit industry association like the I-CAR Education Foundation or you’re an active member of your local high school’s or college’s advisory committee, there are ways to make the industry stronger through education.”

If you’re looking for more information on how you can become involved in collision repair industry education, visit www.i-car.com/foundation.

Jim Dickens is the Senior Vice President of Sales at CCC Information Services Inc.