There is no denying the shortage of fleet mechanics in the work truck industry. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that over 28,000 diesel service technicians and mechanics jobs will become available over the next 10 years on an annual basis. WyoTech, a diesel technician and auto mechanic school in Wyoming is working to address the shortage. Below, Jim Mathis, WyoTech president discusses the issue.
HOW DOES THE CURRENT AUTO MECHANIC SHORTAGE TIE INTO THE LARGER ISSUE OF THE SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGE IN THE US?
MATHIS: Similar to many of the trades in America, we have more skilled labor retiring and exiting the trades than we have younger folks entering those fields. Not only are we seeing people retire from the trades, the demand is higher than decades past, making the situation complex and dire.
WHAT IS WYOTECH DOING TO HELP WITH THIS SHORTAGE?
MATHIS: WyoTech is hyper-focused on nine-month programs to prepare tradesmen and women for entry-level positions at minimum. Our programs are structured with a full-time, eight-hour-a-day curriculum model supporting the industry with talent faster than a two-year or four-year school may offer.
HOW DOES A TRADE SCHOOL DIFFER FROM A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE? WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENTIATOR?
MATHIS: Our education has a focused approach in training mechanics to be job-ready in nine months with the skills they need for entry-level work. This allows our graduates an opportunity to enter the workforce three years faster than a four-year education. This generates less student debt. Additionally, our graduates will have three years’ industry experience by the time their four-year peers even enter the workforce, also as entry-level talent. Our students should be seeing the financial value of having three-plus-years’ experience.
HOW IMPORTANT TO THE AUTOMOTIVE/DIESEL INDUSTRY IS IT TO CARVE OUT PARTNERSHIPS WITH TRADE SCHOOLS TO INCREASE THE WORKFORCE?
MATHIS: This depends on the demand. Transportation companies across the globe are in need of talent. Companies have an opportunity to work with WyoTech in donating equipment to work on, scholarships to students, and tuition reimbursement opportunities for students who decide to work for those companies. Our program advisory committees also offer a great full-circle feedback loop on skills that need to be incorporated into the curriculum based on what is happening in shops across the nation. WyoTech has quarterly career fairs on campus for students to get a good idea of their opportunities after graduation. Our last career fair brought in over 70 employers from across the nation with openings all over the country. Continued presence with our students is the best way to engage their recruitment pool over time.
Find out more, visit www.wyotech.edu.
