Raise your hands if you have heard discussions or read articles regarding the technician shortage. ASA has recently compiled a report regarding the perceived shortage of technicians. Currently, there are 839,689 automotive service technicians and mechanics, 198,955 automotive body technicians and 21,955 automotive glass installers employed in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Labor - Industry - Occupation Matrix. These numbers embrace technicians and mechanics from all industries.

That's quite a few and the number of positions is expected to increase by 151,000 over the next 10 years. But, that doesn't mean there's a shortage. Often when business owners discuss a shortage of technicians, they qualify their statements by adding the word "qualified" to the mix.

In the 2002 "How's Your Business?" survey, for every technician leaving the repair shop, one was hired. Perhaps that was a body to fill a spot and perhaps the need doesn't lie in recruitment as much as it does in training.

With the economic downturn and the laying off of computer technicians, aircraft technicians and others, the pool of candidates and potential technicians is increasing.

According to Randy Ilg, an economist for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, the unemployment rate of automotive mechanics and service technicians was 5.2 percent in 2002. For those mechanics who were wage-and-salary employees only, the unemployment rate was slightly higher at 5.7 percent. The 5.2 percent includes self-employed persons as well.

The key to a technician shortage doesn't lie solely in recruitment. The key is in training. That's training for technicians and training for management. We all know the value of working for a business that provides a fair wage, benefits and respect. Increased training leads to increased retention, increased respect and increased recruitment.

Stat Corner is written by Denise Caspersen, ASA's research management specialist. She can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 236.

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