A key component of choosing a career is understanding what the future holds for the industry, and the various skills the industry requires. The basic question to ask yourself is “what will be needed in the future?,” and “what skills will be most in demand?”

I’m sure you’ve heard the mainstream media discuss the growing “skills gap” on almost a daily basis. The skills gap identifies the shortage of skilled laborers and technicians that an economy needs to satisfy demand and also continue its growth trajectory. This happens when the rate of retirement of older technicians exceeds the arrival of new technicians joining the workforce. Another factor is the sudden growth in demand for a specific product or service, and the current pool of talent cannot keep up with the demand. Often it is a combination of these two factors.

Mike Rowe, who is known worldwide for his advocacy of the trade-school education, as well as his long history of discussing the cause and effect of the ever-widening skills gap, put it very bluntly when he said that “Every year, for every 5 tradesmen that retire, 2 replace them”. And the transportation sector is one of those industries that is experiencing a shortage of skilled technicians.

Automotive Careers Are Growing Due To Skilled Labor Shortages

Automotive Careers – Technicians

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the nation will need more than 67,000 automotive technicians each year until at least 2033, which represents a projected annual job growth of 3% as a national average¹. In this case, projected annual job growth is defined as job openings due to industry growth and replacement of workers who retire or move to different positions.

Top States for Auto Technician Projected Job Openings

While nation job growth for automotive mechanics is growing along with the economy, some states really stand out with a much higher need for auto technicians. The top states include:

• New York – The state of New York leads the pack with a projected annual job growth of 29% until at least 2030, which translates into approximately 54,000 job openings from 2020 to 2030^2a.
• Arizona – A projected growth in job openings for auto mechanics in Arizona is now 14%, which represents almost 19,000 new jobs by 2030^2b.
• Texas – The Great State of Texas boasts a projected annual job opening rate of 10% for automotive mechanics, which translates into over 62,000 available jobs by 2030^2c.
• Georgia – The peach state projects 24,000 auto technician job openings across the state by 2030^2d.
• Florida – The sunshine state projects the need to fill almost 54,000 auto mechanic job openings by 2030, which represents a 9% increase in need^2e.

Top 5 Metropolitan Areas With Highest Employment Levels For Auto Mechanics

Generally corresponding to the top states with projected job growth for automotive techs are the major metropolitan areas that have the highest employment levels for the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we find that the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA is the top metropolitan area in the nation for auto mechanic employment levels, followed by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, in IL-IN-WI; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; and then the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land areas of Texas³.

Automotive Careers - Auto Body & Collision Repair Technicians

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the nation will need to fill more than 130,000 collision repair technician job openings between 2023 to 2033⁴. As with the example above, the projected annual job growth is defined as job openings due to industry growth and replacement of workers who retire or move to different positions.

Top States for Auto Body Technician Projected Job Openings

While nation job growth for automotive mechanics is holding steady, certain states are projecting a much higher need for techs who specialize in collision repair. Here are the US states with the most projected growth in job openings:

• New York – The state of New York is projecting a major need for collision repair specialists, citing a 60% growth in job openings for auto body technicians until at least 2030, which translates into approximately 12,000 job openings from 2020 to 2030^5a.
• Texas – The Great State of Texas boasts a projected annual job opening rate of 14% for auto body technicians, which translates into 12,800 available jobs between 2020 and 2030^5b.
• Georgia – The Peachtree state projects 6,200 auto body technician job openings across the state by 2030^5c.
• Connecticut – The State of Connecticut projects the need to fill almost 1,700 auto mechanic job openings by 2030, which represents a 12% increase in demand^5d.
• Colorado – Colorado is projecting a need to fill 3,500 auto body technician job openings between 2020 and 2030, which reflects an 11% growth for this occupation^5e.

Top 5 Metropolitan Areas With Highest Employment Levels For Auto Body Technicians

Broadly corresponding to the top states with projected job growth for auto body technicians are the major metropolitan areas that have the highest employment levels for the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we find that the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA is the top metropolitan area in the nation for auto mechanic employment levels, followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI; and then the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land areas of Texas⁶.

The Key Takeaway

There’s a great need for individuals who have the knowledge and skills to repair a vehicle mechanically and/or cosmetically. Tens of Millions of people in the United States rely directly on the safety and reliability of their personal vehicle. As the population continues to grow in the United States, the need for these particular skills will continue to grow with it.

References:

¹ National Center for O*NET Development. National Employment Trends: 49-3023.00 - Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3023.00

^2a National Center for O*NET Development. Employment Trends: 49-3023.00 - Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3023.00?st=NY

^2b National Center for O*NET Development. Employment Trends: 49-3023.00 - Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3023.00?st=AZ

^2c National Center for O*NET Development. Employment Trends: 49-3023.00 - Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3023.00?st=TX

^2d National Center for O*NET Development. Employment Trends: 49-3023.00 - Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3023.00?st=GA

^2e National Center for O*NET Development. Employment Trends: 49-3023.00 - Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3023.00?st=FL

³ “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics“ from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493023.htm#:~:text=areas%20with%20the%20highest%20employment Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024. Retrieved on October 18, 2024.

⁴ National Center for O*NET Development. National Employment Trends: 49-3021.00 - Automotive Body and Related Repairers. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3021.00.

^5a National Center for O*NET Development. Employment Trends: 49-3021.00 - Automotive Body and Related Repairers. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3021.00?st=NY

^5b National Center for O*NET Development. Employment Trends: 49-3021.00 - Automotive Body and Related Repairers. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3021.00?st=TX

^5c National Center for O*NET Development. Employment Trends: 49-3021.00 - Automotive Body and Related Repairers. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3021.00?st=GA

^5d National Center for O*NET Development. Employment Trends: 49-3021.00 - Automotive Body and Related Repairers. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3021.00?st=CT

^5e National Center for O*NET Development. Employment Trends: 49-3021.00 - Automotive Body and Related Repairers. O*NET OnLine. Retrieved October 18, 2024, from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/49-3021.00?st=CO

⁶ “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, 49-3021 Automotive Body and Related Repairers“ from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493021.htm#:~:text=areas%20with%20the%20highest%20employment Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024. Retrieved on October 18, 2024.