Tackle Your Tech Shortage: Developing Bench Strength Daily

While the technician shortage isn't exactly breaking news for our industry, its effects don't seem to be letting up anytime soon. The problem is complex, and unfortunately, a solution isn't on the horizon. 

According to the 2022 "Supply and Demand Report" released by Tech Force Foundation, the number of incoming technicians from post-secondary programs dropped another 11.8% in 2021. Between now and 2026, over 600,000 new technicians will be needed across the automotive sector. 

While the workforce did gain about 30,000 automotive technicians in 2021, the first upward trend since 2018, the continued lack of young technicians in our industry is a real concern. 

It's becoming apparent that this is the new normal for shops everywhere, which means that it's time to make sustainable changes within our shops in order to endure this shift in our industry. 

For the foreseeable future, developing the teams we have to mitigate the effects of this ongoing crisis will be important — and daily training can help accomplish this. 

Developing Your Team With Daily Training  

Creating a strong and experienced team means giving them the proper resources to thrive in their positions, and daily training can help develop the bench strength of your team. Daily training brings a new, dynamic approach to technician development by delivering bite-sized learning sessions each day. This not only fits into the busy schedules of your employees, but ensures that they see measurable growth in their skill sets. 

Train At Every Level 

With daily training, your team can access tailored content paths that best suit their level of experience. Whether they're new to the industry or have been around for quite some time, your technicians can access training that cuts through the noise and makes better use of their time.

The technician shortage obviously isn't the only looming issue our shops and technicians are facing. Automotive technology is advancing at a rapid pace, and even our most experienced technicians need ongoing training to be able to keep up with our industry. The ability to upskill efficiently continues to be important for shops and technicians alike. 

Access to regular and consistent training builds strong knowledge foundations for new technicians. As experienced technicians retire from our industry, there will inevitably be some big shoes to fill. They have a lifetime of automotive knowledge that will be sorely missed.

By providing robust training for younger, more inexperienced technicians, especially new graduates, you ensure that they are well on their way to becoming the experienced technicians your shop needs. 

Retain Your Talent 

Retention is critical during this tech shortage. Keeping your existing technicians happy and fulfilled in their roles is a top priority. Career growth is important to many technicians. In fact, 61% of adults in the United States seek career development opportunities. So shops that don't prioritize their employees’ development could risk losing crucial team members. 

By investing in training for your team, you show your technicians that their career development is a priority. When you provide learning opportunities for your team, you'll keep your current team happy and make your shop more attractive when searching for new team members. 

Enhance Productivity 

While finding and retaining top talent can be difficult, you still need the work to get done. Maintaining productivity within your shop, even when you might not have all the technicians you need, is imperative. 

For your team members to be more productive throughout their work day, they must be able to recall important information quickly. Time spent looking up answers to questions that might arise while working on a vehicle can reduce your technicians' productivity. 

Daily training helps your techs remember important information by improving their knowledge retention. A few minutes of daily training reinforces new knowledge. Without reinforcement, we can lose up to 90% of what we've learned in just 30 days. When your technicians can quickly recall information as they're working, they'll be able to maintain a higher level of productivity. 

Get the Tools You Need to Beat the Tech Shortage 

The technician shortage might be here to stay, but your shop can still overcome it. We'd love to tell you more about how investing in daily training can help your shop see real results, so contact us soon.