Pub. 17 2018-2019 Issue 4

N E W J E R S E Y C O A L I T I O N O F A U T O M O T I V E R E T A I L E R S I S S U E N O . 1 , 2 0 1 9 8 new jersey auto retailer Franchised Auto retailers across the country are facing a critical shortage of experienced automotive service tech- nicians, and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is stepping up and addressing this industry need. The NADA Foundation launched a workforce initiative earlier this year with the goal of promoting the value of dealership jobs, especially service technicians, in the retail auto industry. New car and truck dealerships employ more than 1.2 million people across the country. Service Departments, in partic- ular, are facing a dramatic challenge in attracting, training and retaining skilled technicians. The concern is heightened when you consider there are thousands of vehicles on the road today that are STILL in need of repairs following recalls, as well as scheduled mainte- nance and warranty repairs. That is a major safety issue for everyone on the road. It’s also an economic issue because when a Service Department isn’t able to function at maximum efficiency, the financial health of the entire dealership is negatively impacted. So just how bad is the need? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that new-car dealerships will need approxi- mately 76,000 technicians PER YEAR through 2026 to fill anticipated job open- ings, as more experienced technicians retire or leave the industry and fewer students choose to pursue careers in auto repair. Some estimates say New Jersey ALONE will need as many as 12,000 technicians over the next seven years. The NADA Foundation has developed a workforce initiative to harness the knowl- edge of automakers, training centers and dealerships, regarding recruiting and training technicians. The first step is get- ting more students to consider and choose to pursue a career in auto repair. This public relations effort is not going to fill the need overnight. It will take reaching one student, then another and another, until we have a pipeline of individuals being trained for these rewarding careers. The Foundation’s website (https://www. nadafoundation.org/) provides a wealth of information on the many benefits of an auto repair career in the 21st century, as well as information on training and schol- arship opportunities. NADA will also be reaching out to key audiences, such as high school guidance counselors, community college adminis- trators and military separation officers, to educate them about the industry and encourage them to promote these careers to their constituents. While NADA addresses the issue on the national level, NJ CAR is attacking the technician shortfall on the State level. The Coalition’s Automotive Techni- cian Apprenticeship Program (ATAP) is currently in development and is expected to launch in the Fall. NJ CAR staff, led by Breanna Esquilin, are meeting with service directors to determine what skills dealerships need apprentice level techni- cians to possess when they graduate from an auto tech program. The meeting with Service Directors will allow the NJ CAR Program to meet the specific needs of dealerships through the development of a job-specific training program and formal career path that will be marketed to post-secondary auto tech- nician training programs. The Coalition will also launch a public affairs campaign to highlight the benefits of an auto tech career, eliminate the stigma of the “me- chanic” and encourage more individuals to pursue careers in automotive repair. As Jim Appleton has said, “today’s auto tech jobs are more tech than auto, with skilled employees using laptops to analyze complex data and diagnose a problem long before they pick up a wrench and get under the hood.” Dealers in New Jersey and across the country are committed to encourag- ing students to take a serious look at a career in auto repair. Not only are these good-paying, local jobs that can’t be outsourced, they are in VERY high demand. If we all support the efforts of NADA on the national level and NJ CAR at the State level, we will suc- cessfully fill the employment gap at our dealerships and help more people take advantage the rewarding careers the auto retail industry has to offer. NADA Director’s MESSAGE | BY RICHARD A. DESILVA, SR. NADA Is Tackling The Auto Tech Shortage On The National Level