There seems to be general agreement that a shortage of automotive technicians exists. The actual magnitude of that shortage is arguable, but 60,000 is the number we hear most often. If one assumes there are about one million workers involved in auto repair, that amounts to a 6 percent shortfall.

Under normal circumstances, the law of supply and demand would fix the problem - raise compensation and those wanting more money would be attracted to that line of work. But, the job market isn't normal - at least it's not the way it used to be. So, we have to define more precisely where the technician (or mechanic) shortage is.

The term “mechanic” is being replaced with “technician” to reflect a higher level of training and skill needed to work on modern, sophisticated cars and trucks. However, brakes, mufflers, struts and tires still need to be replaced, regardless of the level of sophistication of the vehicle. This level of mechanical work requires relatively little training, so if indeed there is a shortage of workers in this area, raising compensation and offering good working conditions will fill the gap. Some shop owners might not like that idea, but the overall job market is very competitive.

The same can't be said about the other end of the spectrum. Skilled technicians, capable of performing state-of-the-art diagnostics on increasingly complex vehicles, simply can't be attracted to auto repair from other unrelated occupations. A glance at the want ads from any major metropolitan area will prove the point. Repair shops are looking for experienced technicians with training in specific areas. And if the supply of this level of talent is limited, offering great fringe benefits and signing bonuses only encourages employers to raid each other for workers, without increasing the supply.

The trick to increasing the supply of qualified technicians is to attract not only those high school graduates who have already demonstrated their interest in an auto repair career, but others who are also technically oriented. Many automakers have training programs that pay for education and offer employment, but recruiting efforts for these programs often come up short. Even vocational and postsecondary schools sometimes have trouble getting enough interested students.

Unfortunately, there seems to be plenty of anecdotal evidence to show that an auto repair career is viewed as neither rewarding nor trendy. Guidance counselors and even parents tend to steer students toward more “socially acceptable” careers, such as computer programming or accounting. Efforts by organizations such as ASE, CASE, NATEF and ATMC have been very effective in improving the image and prestige of the automotive technician, but the 6 percent technician shortage has persisted for the past 10 years, and shows no signs of improving.

Perhaps the best solution to the so-called shortage is to make the existing workforce more effective. Employers can focus on getting technicians to take periodic upgrade training as a job requirement. Both inexperienced and seasoned technicians can do their part by voluntarily participating in higher levels of employer-paid training and ASE certification. It all sounds expensive and time-consuming, but no one said it was going to be cheap or easy.

David G. Van Sickle is director of Automotive and Consumer Information for AAA's national office in Washington, D.C. He is also editor in chief of AAA's annual New Car & Truck Buying Guide, publisher of the newsletter AUTOgram, a frequent contributor to several newspapers, and AAA's radio and TV spokesperson on automotive issues. Van Sickle has a degree in electrical engineering, is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, a member of the board of directors of the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence and vice president of the Washington Automotive Press Association.

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