Have we hit a turning point in the technician shortage? TechForce’s 2024 Supply & Demand Report shows meaningful momentum–postsecondary completions increased for the second year in a row, and the total transportation technician workforce grew 2.8% YoY (vs. 2.0% for the overall U.S. labor force). That’s progress worth paying attention to.
Key Highlights (What actually moved)
- Completions finally climbing (again). For the second consecutive year, postsecondary graduates are up across sectors, evidence the pipeline is thawing.
- Workforce growth outpaced the broader economy. Total transportation technician employment grew 2.8% YoY vs. 2.0% U.S. labor force growth.
- Demand still dwarfs supply. The report projects ~1 million new-entry technicians needed over the next five years, driven largely by retirements/attrition (not just growth). Replacement needs outpace growth at >4:1 in several sectors.
- Diesel is a pressure point. Diesel workforce growth has averaged ~1.04% annually over the past five years, making the gap especially acute for fleets and heavy-duty.
- Older vehicles = more service. With owners keeping vehicles longer, service demand remains elevated, further amplifying the need for skilled techs.
What it Means for Automotive Service & Heavy-Duty Diesel
Even with completions rising, the replacement wave (retirements + transitions) will keep bays tight. That means the leaders who develop entry-level techs faster will win on cycle times, first-time-fix, and customer experience.
Translation: hiring alone won’t save you. On-the-job training and structured mentoring are the lever.
Why Mentoring Still Does the Heavy Lifting
Classrooms build foundations; your shop builds professionals. A structured, bay-floor mentoring system delivers what schools can’t:
- Real-time feedback that accelerates learning and confidence.
- Skill-set repetitions tracked to true competence (not “watched it once” training).
- Clear career pathways so new hires see where they’re going and stay.
- Consistency across locations so quality isn’t personality-based.
How Mentor Mentee Fits the 2024 Reality
Mentor Mentee turns that structure into a repeatable system for dealer groups, independent service centers, and diesel fleets:
- Custom skill sets with tracked reps until competency.
- Career pathway visibility for every tech.
- Accountability & recognition built in for mentors and mentees.
- Manager dashboards to see progress, spot gaps, and plan Q1 cohorts.
The result: a faster ramp for new techs and a steadier pipeline when the market can’t supply enough experienced hires.
Bottom Line
TechForce’s 2024 data says the pipeline is improving but the gap remains. Shops that treat mentoring as a system (not a favor) will capture the upside first: stronger teams, better customer experiences, and healthier operations.
👉 See your numbers in under a minute: Visit our ROI Calculator and quantify how structured mentoring impacts your shop.