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ADVANCE-TECH Reading Assignment Updates Collision Repair Instructors Network (CRIN) Snapshot of the Industry |
2007 Snapshot of the IndustryThe I-CAR Education Foundation's 2007 Snapshot of the Collision Industry is intended to provide data that can be used to help retain current technicians, recruit new technicians, and support school-to-work programs. Technical school programs have used this data to support their existing programs, substantiate expansion, recruit new students, and help start new programs. To request copies of the four page, two color Executive Summary to use for recruiting and career day purposes contact: Melissa Marscin Or, download the I-CAR Education Foundation Snapshot Of The Collision
Background A similar survey was commissioned in 2007 to verify earlier data and to monitor trends. These results are intended for use in recruiting and training new technicians today as well as for use in long-term industry issues. Sample Business Statistics Percentage of large shops (with annual sales of $300,000 to $1 million) and super shops (over $1 million) have steadily increased. Percentage of small shops (with annual sales under $300,000) has continued to decline.
The overall average for square feet of production space has again increased. Businesses also reported a higher average number of employees with the percentage of shops employing more than six technicians increasing over 50 percent since 1995. Current Technicians
Most of the current working technicians were hired from another shop (61%). Over 20 percent were hired from a non-automotive industry or hired as their first job. Just over six percent were hired from a related automotive industry, while seven percent were hired directly from a technical school program. Women still represent less than one percent of the technician workforce. These figures have not changed significantly from previous surveys. Slightly above the entire adult population, 88 percent of technicians are high school graduates. Businesses responding to the survey report that 23 percent of technicians participated in no training in the last two years from I-CAR, vehicle makers, vendors, or others. ASE certification was reported by 32 percent of the technicians covered in the survey. Both results are similar to those reported in previous surveys. Compensation Although there is a wide distribution, annual income tends to increase with shop sales volume and frequent training, especially I-CAR classes. Income figures shown below are for production technicians over 20 years old. Average income for production technicians has again increased since the previous survey. Several other skilled trades actually decreased. Average income for all technicians is $51,312, competitive with similar skilled trades and higher than most. Average income among the top 10 percent was $88,460, showing an attractive earning potential as a collision repair technician.
Benefits
Businesses offering no benefits increased to slightly under nine percent in 2007. Employee performance reviews have risen with almost 60 percent reporting regular formal reviews. Those providing written employment guidelines to new technicians remained steady at 42 percent. There are significant differences in these management practices among individual businesses, indicating that the collision industry is not offering a consistent level of benefits for technicians. Technician Turnover
One of every six technicians (16.4%) left their job for a similar position in another shop, trending slightly higher in every survey since 1995. This is turnover within the industry and, while disruptive to an individual shop, does not increase or decrease the pool of available technicians. Industry turnout is a greater concern. In the last 12 months, approximately 21,500 collision technicians (11%) left the trade, higher than the nine percent reported in 2004. Some technicians (6.3%) left the collision industry completely. Others (3.3%) left their technician position for an industry-related job, such as estimator, manager, or shop owner. In addition, 1.5% of technicians retired from the workforce and an additional 2.6% are expected to retire next year. Both retirement figures show an increase from 2004.
New Technicians
Of the 21,800 new entry-level technicians, over 12,000 (56%) were reported to have left in the last 12 months. When asked, “If available, how many more technicians would you have hired?”, 45 percent of businesses said they would have hired at least one more technician, higher than the 33 percent reported in 2004. Technical Training Programs
Respondents expected to pay entry-level new hires about half the wages of a journeyman new hire. Most respondents would be willing to serve on a technical school advisory board (52%), although current participation is 19 percent. Almost half (47%) reported no high school program available in their area, while 43 percent reported no post-secondary program available. The collision industry does not currently have a uniform plan for apprentice, co-op, or work study programs; however, 64 percent of the respondents indicated a willingness to support such programs, higher than the 2004 Survey (58%). “In how many years would you expect an inexperienced, entry-level person to become a fully productive technician?” Most common answer Conclusions
For permission to reproduce this report or for more information, please contact: I-CAR Education Foundation |
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