October 2021 - TechForce

October 28, 2021December 8, 2022

TechForce releases the 2021 Technician Supply & Demand Report

TechForce Report Reveals Demand for New Technicians
Nearly Doubled since 2020 – Estimated to Outpace Supply by 5 to 1

Supply took a big hit in 2020 from COVID while demand continued to increase Electric vehicle impact on demand negligible over next 5 years

October 28, 2021 – PHOENIX, AZ — TechForce Foundation^® has released its 2021 Transportation Technician Supply & Demand Report, revealing the transportation technician shortage continues to worsen. Demand for technicians nearly doubled in the past year – from 136,503 in 2020 to 258,000 in 2021. Last year demand outpaced supply by nearly three to one; now it is estimated to be five to one.

The 2021 Technician Supply & Demand Report supplements the Foundation’s previous reports, adjusting prior projections to reflect research from the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Energy, Vehicle Technologies Office and TechForce’s own analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Citing both increasing demand for professional techs and a declining supply of new techs entering the industry, the update concludes that the technician shortage is increasing in severity, exacerbated by the COVID driven decrease in post-secondary enrollments in 2020.

Although demand is strong, with 797,530 auto/diesel/collision techs needed between 2021 and 2025, the shortage continues to worsen. This year demand for new entrant techs is estimated at 258,000 (up from 136,503 in 2020) while 2020 post secondary completions (supply) were only 48,000. We are seeing a glimmer of hope as attitudes towards these careers are improving in part because they were deemed essential by the government. This translates to great job security. “There is no short-term immediate fix for the tech shortage because it takes time to cultivate and train new techs. However, we are seeing growing industry support and student engagement with near term solutions like the network launched earlier this year by TechForce,” said Jennifer Maher, TechForce CEO.

Built to inspire and support tomorrow’s workforce of technicians, JoinTechForce.org is the first and only social network designed and gamified exclusively for professional technicians and tech students. They are using it to connect with each other, employers and schools. The transportation community is supporting it with content and using it to learn, connect, find scholarships and events, explore job opportunities while competing for prizes and leaderboard status.

According to TechForce Director Emeritus of National Initiatives Greg Settle, who authored the report, “We have done our best to make allowances for the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is clear that the long-term social and economic consequences remain unknown.”

“As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, skilled workers remain vital to our nation’s economy,” says Jerome Grant, CEO of Universal Technical Institute. “This report is informative as to the trends for emerging areas within the automotive field including some initial details on the impact of electric vehicles.”

You can download the 2021 Technician Supply & Demand Report here.

About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion all students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and spearheads an industry-wide workforce development initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. For more information, visit www.techforce.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Resource Links

Infographics: https://adobe.ly/315dyDv
Download 2021 Technician Supply & Demand Report: https://info.techforcefoundation.com/en-us/supply-and-demand-report

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October 25, 2021December 8, 2022

3rd Annual Techs Rocks Awards now accepting nominations

TechForce Foundation Now Accepting Nominations
for its 3^rd Annual Techs Rock Awards^TM

Five transportation technicians to be recognized for outstanding
contributions as role models in their shops and communities

October 25, 2021 – SCOTTSDALE, AZ — TechForce Foundation’s^® annual Techs Rock Awards season has begun. TechForce created this prestigious award to honor professional technicians who mentor and inspire the next generation of techs, bring excellence to their workplaces and communities, and demonstrate passion and commitment to the profession. Now in its third year, the Techs Rock Awards are accepting nominations through 5 PM PDT, Nov 10, 2021. Nominate a technician today at TechForce.org/TechsRock.

Over $12,500 in prizes will be awarded:

Each Category Winner, selected by a panel of industry experts, will receive prizes valued over $1,500 from TechForce partners including Ford Motor Company, CRC Industries, Snap-on Tools, Advance Auto Parts, Cengage, WD-40 Company, and AutoZone.

The Grand Prize Winner, as chosen by popular vote, will receive additional prizes valued over $5,000 from CRC Industries, Ford Motor Company, Snap-on Tools, Advance Auto Parts, Shell, WD-40 Company, and AutoZone.

Technicians will be considered for one of five categories including Pay it Forward, Rookie of the Year, Die Hard Tech, Outstanding Mentor, and Barrier Buster. A panel of celebrity judges will select one Category Winner from each of the five categories. The Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the slate of Category Winners via a People’s Choice Public Vote, to be held November 29 – December 3, 2021.

2021 Techs Rock Award judges include Emily Reeves, Flying Sparks Garage; Charles Sanville, The Humble Mechanic; Bogi Lateiner, Bogi’s Garage; Steve Ford, The Car Guy; and Julia Landauer, Julia Landauer Racing.

The previous Grand Prize Winner Melina Algier of Farnsworth Chevrolet remarked on the Techs Rock Awards, “Amazing! It’s an honor. I have dedicated myself to proving that women can work in the [transportation] industry… Thank you!”

TechForce Foundation will be releasing a 2021 update to its Technician Supply & Demand Report later this month addressing the ongoing technician shortage. Recognition programs like the Techs Rock Awards can help address the shortage. These programs are vital not only to retaining technicians but to repositioning the public’s perception of technician jobs as the high-tech, rewarding, new collar careers that they are.

The Techs Rock Awards are part of TechForce Foundation’s workforce development initiative to help inspire and support tomorrow’s workforce of technicians. TechForce has also created the first and only social network designed and gamified for professional technicians and tech students to connect with each other, employers and schools (JoinTechForce.org). The transportation community is supporting it with content and using it to learn, connect, find events, and explore job opportunities while competing for prizes and leaderboard status.

Resource Links

48-second Overview, featuring Bogi Lateiner – YouTube: https://youtu.be/2GmxTMb4x74

2021 Techs Rock Awards Logo: https://techforce.org/wp-content/uploads/TRA-2021_Awards-Full-Logo_Dark-Text.jpeg

2021 Techs Rock Awards website: TechForce.org/TechsRock

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October 14, 2021December 8, 2022

Under The Hood | October 2021

2021 Techs Rock Awards are less than 2 weeks away!

We’re excited to announce nominations for the 3^rd annual Techs Rock Awards will be open from 10/25/2021 to 11/10/21! Help us celebrate the nation’s most accomplished transportation technicians. Submit nominations starting Monday 10/25 at TechForce.org/TechsRock!

Help spread the word in the meantime by sharing the flyers in the “Free Marketing” section of the TechForce I-HUB Resource Portal>>

TODAY: Learn all about this amazing ride with Stacey David

Don’t miss today’s exclusive, free online event! Spend some time with the one and only Stacey David, TV Host & Car Builder, as he gives a personal walkaround of his 1967 Mercury Cougar. The event is hosted by Mecum Auction and TechForce Foundation, and will be streamed live from Mecum Chattanooga. Tune in today Thursday, Oct 14 at 6 PM EDT/ 3 PM PDT here>>

Don’t miss a single free, exciting event! Join TechForce’s social network>>

Students participate in Driven to Care VIP experience at Autobahn

John F. Weinberger Driven to Care Legacy Fund (part of the Footprints Foundation) and TechForce teamed up to host more than 20 students for a day at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois. Students were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility and garages, speakers who shared information on automotive and racing technician careers, and given hot laps around the track. Special thanks to Autobahn, Lisa Weinberger and Continental Motors for making the event possible. Find upcoming events and apply for scholarships through JoinTechForce.org

Brush up with training in TechForce’s social network

Can you easily explain how an electrical system works? Are you up to date on hybrid engines? Do you know how automated vehicles stay on the road? Stay up to date on advancing vehicle technology with free training from Advance Auto Parts, Cengage, Shell, WD-40, GM and other TechForce partners. Simply join TechForce’s peer network to get started>>

Marine Corps veteran receives Roger Penske Outstanding Student Award

Congratulations to the Roger Penske Outstanding Student Award winner, Luis Menjivar Diaz! A United States Marine Corps veteran, Luis has overcome every challenge life has thrown at him, never missing an opportunity to give back along the way. TechForce is proud to help him pursue his dream of becoming a Master Technician.

Learn how TechForce scholarships can help you with your technician training at JoinTechForce.org

Compete against other TechForce members with trivia & contests

Climb the leaderboard in TechForce’s social network by playing trivia, competing in contests and more! Your point totals will be shown against other users in the network. You could even be named the next TechForce champion! Join the only social network built for aspiring and working techs to get started >>

#WomenTechsRock – “Alright let’s get this done”

“I’m always learning stuff, it’s exciting… [everyone around me] is very proud of me.” GM technician
Brooke Fabian loves what she does, and knows the power of believing in yourself. Hear Brooke’s story in this week’s #WomenTechsRock interview>>

Would you or a technician you know like to be featured in our #WomenTechsRock interview series? Let us know>>

TechForce salutes 10 Missions Media on the ADAPT Summit

TechForce recognizes our partner 10 Missions Media for organizing the ADAPT: Automotive Technology Summit (Dec 5-7, 2021) to support independent shops. The Summit is a forum for the automotive aftermarket that gives the resources, knowledge and strategies to overcome the obstacles you’ll face moving forward. Learn more about ADAPT>>

Thank you to all TechForce Foundation partners!

Associations: Automotive Communications Council, Automotive Maintenance & Repair Association (AMRA), American Rental Association (ARA), Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Automotive Service Association (ASA), Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), ASE Education Foundation, ASE Training Managers Council (ATMC), Auto Care Association/Women in Auto Care, Center for Advanced Automotive Technology (CAAT), Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement (CADIA), Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair (CCAR), Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence, National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada (NAACC), National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF), National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), National Center for Autonomous Technology (NCAT), SkillsUSA, STEAM Sports Foundation and American Trucking Association’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC)

Celebrities: Charles Sanville (The Humble Mechanic), Lyn St. James (IndyCar), Bogi Lateiner (Girl Gang Garage), Steve Johnson (Steve Johnson Racing – NHRA) and Julia Landauer (Julia Landauer Racing – NASCAR)

October

TOPICS IN UNDER THE HOOD FOR OCTOBER 2021: