Jobs in Automotive Repair Are On the Rise

Find Work in Auto Repair Shops, Car Dealerships, & Auto Parts Stores

Aug 23, 2009
Mary King

Auto Repair Industry Includes Welders and Painters - army.mil

Men and women with a passion for working on cars can turn auto repair skills into income. Technicians, welders, painters, mechanics, & parts salesmen list a few choices.

Anyone that has a passion for working on cars and trucks may also have the automotive repair skills needed for a job – or a career – in the auto repair industry. Auto mechanics receive months of special training, learning diagnostic testing on modern vehicles that have computerized and electronic systems. But there are other options available for working in auto repair, and some don't require any formal training or classroom experience.

Auto Repair Jobs Keep the Automobile Industry Working

There are thousands of job opportunities available in auto repair service just waiting to be tapped. Professional auto repair jobs – technicians, painters, and welders, for example – require formal training and certification. Many auto repair positions require less experience and training. Some auto repair shop owners maintain the business, doing the paperwork, ordering supplies, and so forth. They hire experienced professionals and laborers to do the hands-on work.

As for hands-on auto garage workers, the United States Department of Labor offers online information in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition, and states in the section titled "Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics" under the heading of Job Outlook, "The number of jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics is projected to grow faster than average for all occupations over the next decade. Employment growth will create many new jobs, but total job openings will be significantly larger because many skilled technicians are expected to retire and will need to be replaced."

Employment Opportunities Available in Automotive Repair

Jobs in car repair encompass a wide range of professional and nonprofessional skills. Advanced auto technicians or mechanics, for example, require training in computer skills and sophisticated diagnostics equipment. Applicants take classroom courses, earning certification in specialized areas of automotive repair. Other workers may enter the auto repair workforce as apprentices or entry-level assistants who gain experience by starting at the bottom. Shown below is a sample list of jobs related to automotive repair. Each job, no matter how small it may seem, makes a significant contribution to the automobile industry.

Oil changing service. Inexperienced persons applying for basic car maintenance jobs should have some familiarity with engine fluids and products that maximize vehicle performance.
Tire sales and service. Inexperienced employees assist tire technicians and may receive training from the hiring company for advancement. Job sales require training and common knowledge of the product.
Auto parts stores. Auto parts service associates address hundreds of auto repair questions each day, usually from customers attempting to fix their own vehicles. Many auto parts stores sell repair manuals, but store clerks can access computer programs that can answer questions. Associates who work in auto parts stores may even do minor repair jobs for customers, such as installing new wiper blades, changing fuses, or replacing light bulbs.
Auto body shop. Auto body shops need workers experienced in welding, painting, working with plastics, and knowledge in basic computer skills at the very least.
Mechanics or Technicians. Highly trained professional auto mechanics (A.k.a. technicians) have to keep up with constant changes in technology. Vehicle components and systems are much more sophisticated today than they were even ten years ago.
Brakes and Transmission Repair. Training is necessary because systems are more advanced, but many places offer on-the-job training for assistants.
Dealership auto repair shop. Auto services on newer model vehicles require experienced workers. Employees represent not only the car dealership, but also the auto maker.
AC, radiator, and windshield repair shops. Sometimes auto repair shops specialize in specific areas of automotive repair. Many of these auto shops hire trainees to repair cars and other vehicles.
Detailing, lighting, rim sales, audio, and other extras. These shops are hugely popular no matter how depressed the economy. Auto detailers can learn a valuable trade.
Department store auto repair service. The work is usually basic maintenance and repair – batteries, tires, etc. – but entry-level laborers can get good hands-on training.
Automobile Club Towing Services. Workers tow broken down or wrecked vehicles, but they also do some minor on-site repair work, like changing tires, jumping batteries, and so forth.

Gone are the days when a single auto repair shop handled all the car repair business in a community. Today, nearly every aspect of the automotive repair business involves sophisticated equipment and computer skills. A good way to get a feel for a specific type of automotive repair work is to start as an assistant laborer. If the job fits, one can then take classes to gain experience and start moving up the ladder to better paying positions.

There are hundreds of jobs relative to auto repair, including associate jobs in auto parts stores, auto detailing, and department store automotive service workers. Auto repair shops are not likely to disappear anytime soon; the same goes for related businesses. One thing is certain even when the economy is bad: People need transportation. Auto repairmen provide valuable services to a mobile society.