Automotive Technicians Of The Future Poised For Rewarding Careers

Kansas City, Mo. - The popular assumption that law degrees and MBAs may be the only road to a financially rewarding career is an urban legend, according to Scott Mackie, general manager, ACDelco. Speaking to the 39th annual SkillsUSA-VICA National Leadership and Skills Conference held here on June 26, Mackie said that increasingly complex automotive technologies have created lucrative career opportunities for automotive technicians - with earning potential exceeding the average salary of attorneys.

"The emphasis is placed on advanced technology in today's automotive training programs because vehicles have become so complex. The gap continues to widen between vehicle complexity and the capability of technicians," Mackie said. " It's no secret - we're facing a shortage of skilled technicians."

The GM Foundation and ACDelco sponsors the SkillsUSA Automotive Service Technology competition, which Mackie describes as "requiring students to demonstrate professionalism and the ability to use critical thinking. Although technical skills are fundamentally important, the students that do well in this contest are the ones that not only are familiar with the vehicle systems - using the tools and doing the tasks - but also are able to think through a problem and recognize what is needed to get the best results."

Citing statistics from the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), Mackie informed the group that most car owners believe that it is more cost effective to repair a vehicle than it is to purchase a new one. A MEMA poll concluded that 85 percent of its respondents believe that "regular tune-ups are the best way to maintain their vehicle's long-term value."

In addition, Mackie said that longer loans on vehicles might induce many car owners to repair rather than replace their cars following warranty expiration, further increasing the need for a greater number of skilled automotive technicians.

To alleviate the shortage, Mackie emphasized that top automotive technicians can earn more than the average attorney, can easily relocate from one job to another in less than a week and often are as skilled with a computer as they are with a wrench.

Mackie said that the shortage of skilled technicians might be alleviated by collaboration with organizations such as SkillsUSA to encourage school counselors to recommend technician careers, as well as improve public perception and increase public respect for the depth of a technician's knowledge.

ACDelco is a global leader in automotive replacement parts and services offering products for virtually all vehicle-makes and models. ACDelco is headquartered in Grand Blanc, Mich., and markets automotive replacement parts worldwide under the ACDelco brand name.