CAPACITY BUILDER

Building the Pipeline

This growing need for workers in the auto sector is not unique to California. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the national average age of current labor force in the auto industry is 50, with an average of 15,000 technicians retiring per year. Until 2010, attrition and growth in the sector are estimated to cause a nationwide need of approximately 30,000 new automotive technicians annually. According to Todd Leutheuser, SMCDA executive director, "studies show that there will be greater need for automotive technicians in next 10 years than nurses due to this change in dynamics of industry and technology."