Talk about a glaring generation change. Apparently young people today are more interested in Facebook than cars, and that means we’re facing a shortage of auto mechanics. And when the supply of mechanics contracts while the demand for the service holds steady or increases, the price of repair will rise.
The nation’s demand for auto mechanics is expected to have grown about 17% from 2010 to 2020, adding 124,800 jobs for a total of 848,200, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports. Auto technicians overall earned an average of $35,790, but 10% earned more than $59,590, in 2010, the most recent year for which the BLS has data.
We’ve already seen this trend with welders, electricians, plumbers, and other technical/craft areas. And despite it all, some educators continue to push most kids down the path of traditional four-year degrees. Let’s hope educator wake up soon and take a look at Bureau of Labor statistics that show many of tomorrow’s jobs require specialized skill, not a four-year degree.
