Seems like technicians are in demand once again

[fastfredracing]

Just an observation, no real data to back it up, but everywhere that I look, There are technician wanted signs. I have also been getting a lot of emails from out of state dealers/automalls, looking to hire, and help relocate techs, and all the independents I know of are looking for , and having a hard time finding guys.
Is the industry making a comeback , or has the field of well trained, hard working techs dried up ? You don't see a whole lot of new places opening up. Our local used car dealer just threw a ton of money an an attempt to get an independent repair shop off the ground, and 16 months in , they threw in the towel.
How does it look around you guys? I know some of you are in the biz.

[ThomO]

I think the economy is starting to turn around and people have more disposable income and are starting to spend it instead of saving it for a rainy day.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Most blue collar trade trades have a significant portion of their workforce poised to retire in the near future. All while a growing population demands more services from mechanics, plumbers, electricians, etc. Hopefully more kids forego a dead end college degree for a technical education, because I suspect the demand will be strong.

[gtc]

Is the industry making a comeback , or has the field of well trained, hard working techs dried up?

Some of each? We have been hiring diesel techs in Washington and North Dakota for several years now.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Most blue collar trade trades have a significant portion of their workforce poised to retire in the near future. All while a growing population demands more services from mechanics, plumbers, electricians, etc. Hopefully more kids forego a dead end college degree for a technical education, because I suspect the demand will be strong.

Matt, you hit the nail right on the head. Lots of "real" trades folks are hanging up their towels and the young ones are not able to fill their roles. The trend is to go to college only to have many of those jot outsourced. Trades are frowned upon even though its a legit and sometimes big money businesses. I hope to have little competition in the next 10 years, but I really only have about 20 good years left in this business. Not sure if I want to push it that far, but retirement and fishing ain't in my plan.

I have to say that young guys are really good at trouble shooting with that computer, where the old farts really lack.

[craigster59]

Mike Rowe has been pushing the trades for awhile now....
mikeroweWORKS

[look 171]

during my teaching days, the academia had always given me carp about the trades and that they make too much money digging a hole in the ground. my respond to that was that they, the english, history, accounting majors will end up working these trade base firms like Ford or some giant construction or engineering firms. Many shut up after that because its true. The dumb one have no clue and continue to fight and belittle the trades people.

Nothing wrong with making a living in the trades or working in the office with a white collar job neither.

[Nostril Cheese]

I've been turning away work for the last few months. It has been very nice. I've been able to throw more money in the Porsche fund.

Becoming an independent wrench is likely the best choice I've ever made. The corporate professional world simply isnt worth it.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

I've been turning away work for the last few months. It has been very nice. I've been able to throw more money in the Porsche fund.

Becoming an independent wrench is likely the best choice I've ever made. The corporate professional world simply isnt worth it.

Amen, nostril. I'm in the same boat. Are you like me? A one man repair shop? From your posts here, you always seem to have your hands on something. It's tough work, and a pia sometimes, but there is always work, and for the last few years, I've been cherry picking a little more .
I walked away from my last official job well over 20 years ago, and I will never look back.

[Rick V]

Our area is still stuck in the non hire rut for techs, and those of us that have decent jobs are holding them tight.

[asphaltgambler]

My opinion is that this is not an economic event but an industry 'blip' on the radar. I can tell you the retail auto repair industry continues its' decline with the backwards 'Flat-rate' pay for service workers. To the point that some shops have illegally resorted to hiring them as sub-contractors...........and mechanics / technicians accepting as no other option for employment in the current market.

Most likely any 'vacancy' that is being advertised is because a good tech left for of lack of work, cheated on their pay or over staffing of the dept. Only the value of a producing technician is monetized by management, not when they stand around or take longer to do the job. So, in effect, shops have zero investment in their service workers unlike other traditional blue collar trades where the skilled workers are paid largely by the clock hour.

Remember flat rate / COD hourly time (paid time) is based originally with warranty service times that are dictated by the vehicle manufacturer then multiplied (approx) by a factor of 150%. IE: warranty job "A" pays .5 hr (1/2 hour) dictated by GM. COD time would then be @.75 hr. Problem with that is historically warranty costs are a huge problem to the manufacturers and are always the first thing to be cut further when the accounts review them.

As vehicles have become almost insanely complex in recent years, the warranty times have actually decreased, and along with that COD repair times. The reality is that there are so many hurdles today that cannot be over come, so much stacked against the average-to-good technician is they are setup to fail by the 'system' before he or she ever lays hands on the car.