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Results below are from employers in these industries: Transportation

They are talking about these topics: Current Continuing Education, Educational Partnerships, Experience & Credentials, General Skills, Industry Trends, Needs & Challenges in Continuing Education, Occupation-Specific Skills, Workforce Trends & Challenges

 

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Industry
Transportation

Topic
Current Continuing Education
Educational Partnerships
Experience & Credentials
General Skills
Industry Trends
Needs & Challenges in Continuing Education
Occupation-Specific Skills
Workforce Trends & Challenges


Industry Topic Sort ascending Issue What did
employers say?
Transportation Current Continuing Education The most common areas of knowledge or skills that incumbent workers need as part of their ongoing training include new product technology, new vehicle technology, manufacturer-specific certifications, customer service, hazardous waste management, ergonomics and leadership training. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Current Continuing Education Employers use a variety of modalities for ongoing education, including using online training; bringing in manufacturer representatives for training; and sending employees to hands-on factory training. Relatively few employers mentioned using universities or technical colleges for continuing education. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Current Continuing Education Employers see the continuing education of incumbent workers as essential. Many employers, particularly those who hire technicians and general automotive repair workers currently provide ongoing education for their employees. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Educational Partnerships Some participants request more relevant hands-on training in programs (i.e., exposure to new equipment and technology, including diagnostic equipment for automotive repair and modern trucks for diesel repair students). Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Educational Partnerships Other curricular changes include more manufacturer-specific skills and certifications, general continuing education courses, and professional development related to new technology for instructors. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Educational Partnerships Many employers are already involved in internship programs with local high schools and tech schools while others are interested in beginning an internship program and/or a placement program for graduating tech students. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Educational Partnerships Many request increased efforts in recruiting students into the automotive repair and commercial trucking industries, mostly at the K-12 level, as well as to recruit students with greater aptitudes for IT work (for technician positions). This was often related to the above-mentioned need to promote a more positive image of automotive careers and the variety of skills, both mechanical and technological, to succeed in the industry. Several respondents are already involved in K-12 partnerships in educating students about the industry. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Experience & Credentials Employers strongly prefer candidates who have had internships or other relevant work experience. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Experience & Credentials Employers are looking for entry-level technicians with two-year technical degrees, preferably with manufacturer-specific certifications. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation General Skills New hires would benefit from having stronger communication skills. This includes the ability to write, to provide presentations to customers/clients when necessary, and to engage in effective interpersonal communication. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation General Skills Customer service skills are essential and yet are sometimes lacking. This is particularly true for service managers, but also for technicians. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation General Skills New hires often lack an appropriate level of professionalism. This includes work ethic, quality of work, and realistic workplace expectations. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation General Skills New hires often lack the ability to problem-solve when using technology. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation General Skills Passion, drive, and commitment to the field are essential. (It is not necessarily that employers do not find these qualities in recent graduates, but it is what they are looking for in new hires.) Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Industry Trends Participants speak of the image of the automotive industry as being outdated and in need of change, particularly in order to recruit young workers. In the case of automotive repair, the industry is often stereotyped as "greasy" and requiring only mechanical skills. In reality, the industry has experienced vast technological changes and now requires a complex set of both mechanical and IT skills. Similarly, commercial truck driving is often seen in the light of negative stereotypes that do not accurately reflect the viable careers that the industry offers. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Industry Trends According to a few employers, the repair industry has seen changes in customer dynamics. Most notably, the emergence of online reviews and social media can impact business. Customers are demanding repair shops be open longer hours, increasing the need for technicians to work nights and weekends. The proportion of female customers has risen greatly, and there are fewer customers who perform repairs themselves as the use of electronic parts increases. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Industry Trends The effects of technological changes on the repair industry include more equipment with electronic functions; these functions include a greater number and variety of modules to control them. There is also a movement toward manufacturer-specific parts and the use of wireless diagnostic equipment. Respondents say these changes require a shift to a computer-based industry that requires technicians to have more specialized and technical skills Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Industry Trends Participants also mention a change in the demand for certain types of services. There is now a focus on replacing parts instead of providing routine maintenance services. Also, due to an increase in manufacturer-specific parts, dealership business has increased which, in turn, has reduced the demand for independent shop services. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Industry Trends Both the automotive repair and commercial driving sectors have been affected by various federal policies and insurance company requirements; these policies and requirements often make it more difficult to hire new employees. For instance, recent federal requirements state that interstate trucking employees must be at least 23 years old, and insurance policies require a clean driving record for technicians. (Technicians who do not have a clean record are not able to move cars brought in for repair.) Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Needs & Challenges in Continuing Education Several employers indicate a need for more continuing educational opportunities in various specialized areas, such as welding, new emissions policies for the commercial trucking industry and the effects of social media and quality customer service. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Occupation-Specific Skills Manual transmission and other driver training is important. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Occupation-Specific Skills IT skills and diagnostic skills are important. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Occupation-Specific Skills General exposure to the latest automotive technology. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Occupation-Specific Skills Knowledge of electric/electronic systems is important. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Occupation-Specific Skills Knowledge of manufacturer-specific parts and service is important. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Occupation-Specific Skills In the automotive repair industry, employers are looking for new hires with a broad array of skills. For instance, they want technicians who possess both mechanical and technological skill sets for diagnostics and repair. Some employers state it is difficult to find candidates with this combination. Other employers stress the importance of a combination of mechanical knowledge, customer service skills, and other general skills. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Occupation-Specific Skills Basic mechanical skills and aptitude. Mechanical skills and aptitude are essential in candidates, and yet they are often missing as schools move toward specialization. Broad mechanical training is essential. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Workforce Trends & Challenges Some employers mention high industry turnover and the need for retention efforts through various methods. This includes hiring workers with prior internship experience; hiring workers with a demonstrated commitment to the field; hiring workers from the local area; and providing continuing education to incumbents. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Workforce Trends & Challenges Employers describe various hiring practices, including higher scrutiny of applicants during the interview process. Employers also express a willingness to promote and sponsor the education of promising new employees. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Workforce Trends & Challenges Many employers have positive comments about current training programs and the workforce readiness of new hires. They say many new hires have strong skills and need minimal training. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Workforce Trends & Challenges Many employers feel that there is an undersupply of qualified workers, particularly automotive technicians. This is apparent from a lack of overall applicants and qualified applicants in particular. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Workforce Trends & Challenges Employers believe that the younger generation has less experience with (and therefore perhaps less interest in) auto mechanics from an early age. Young people are now less likely to have grown up working on cars with their parents, and many automotive programs have been cut from high schools. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Workforce Trends & Challenges Location plays a significant role in employers' hiring practices as well as their ability to attract and retain the necessary workforce. Several employers say that they prefer to hire local workers since they are more likely to stay long term; however, it is often difficult to attract those with specialized knowledge to rural areas, particularly when specialized training programs are not located in the area. Read what employers said about this issue
Transportation Workforce Trends & Challenges Employers say many incumbents are reaching retirement age without a sufficient replacement workforce. Read what employers said about this issue