Of the many ways to recruit new employees, 86 percent of ASA collision division members prefer word-of-mouth and 48 percent like classified advertising. According to the latest "How's Your Business?" survey, 41 percent of those same members prefer that next-generation employees come from vo-tech programs. Nine percent favor apprentice programs to find next-generation employees and 4 percent prefer high school programs.

Eighty-two percent of ASA mechanical division members also prefer word-of-mouth as a means of finding new employees. Fifty-one percent favor classified advertising. Twenty-seven percent of mechanical members seek next-generation recruits from vo-tech schools. Twelve percent search for next-generation recruits from industry apprentice programs and 7 percent look at high schools to fill open positions.

Survey respondents designate the experienced technician as the most sought-after employee in the industry. This may account for the low number of employees arriving from apprentice and high school programs. Over half of collision shops and 57 percent of mechanical members are in the market for experienced technicians.

Mechanical members recruiting next-generation employees from school programs is up 273 percent from 2004, a combined total of 12 percent to 46 percent. Collision members recruiting from school programs has increased 249 percent, from 15 percent in 2004 to 54 percent. This is a good indication the industry is filling the age gap between technicians.

Stat Corner is written by Karin White, ASA's research and project specialist. She can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 252, or by e-mail at karinw@asashop.org.

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