TCBN: Help (Really) Wanted

How big is the need for automotive technicians in the region?

Dan Korte would hire 30 tomorrow if he could. That’s not a typo.

Korte is fixed operations director at Serra Traverse City, which operates several dealerships and repair centers in the area. He’s looking for more than just a few good men (or women) to get under the hood.

“I’ve got a shortage in every one of our buildings and every one of our brands,” he says.

This, of course, directly impacts the bottom line. Fewer workers means less work, and less work means less revenue. It’s also not ideal for the loyal customer base that Korte greatly values.

“A technician can only work on one car at a time, so the number of technicians directly dictates the number of cars we can get in,” he said. “We’re in a growing area and there’s a growing need for work to be done on cars, and when we’re booking all the way out to six, seven or eight weeks, that’s not good for anybody. It’s not good for the customer experience and it’s not good for our growth.”

In a situation that’s repeating itself with many positions across several industries in the region, automotive shops of all kinds are desperate for technicians. From entry level folks to master technicians, Korte (who already employs 84) estimates there’s an immediate need for at least 100 between all of the region’s employers.

The October edition of the Traverse City Business News (The Ticker's sister publication) dives into this shortage in detail as one of several stories on the region's automotive and transportation industries. Also included are stories on banking and finance, retirement, the return of TCBN's 7Over70 feature and nearly a dozen local columns from area experts.

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