Grant Helps Get the Word Out

Automotive Retailing Today (ART) is using a $150,000 federal grant for an initiative to build auto dealerships' workforces, especially in the service department where more technicians are needed.

ART and its partners will gather, validate and deliver information about automotive career opportunities to career-related websites and to public workforce development professionals.

The information will describe career opportunities, connect job seekers to training opportunities and job openings in the field and try to dispel negative presumptions that the general public may have about the industry.

“The automotive services sector faces the critical challenge of developing a pipeline of skilled workers for jobs that will be available in the industry,” says Emily Stover DeRocco, assistant secretary of labor for employment and training.

She adds, “ART has shown its commitment to educating young people and workers about new and exciting careers in this evolving field by providing industry data and information to the public workforce system that will help connect job seekers to training opportunities and job openings.”

ART introduced www.autojobstoday.org last year. It serves as a clearinghouse for auto industry service technician career program information.

Designed and launched in collaboration with the military and education professionals, as well as with the Department of Labor, the website includes information on careers, salaries and training.

“Together we can attract qualified workers to America's auto dealerships,” says Alan Starling, who is ART's chairman, last year's National Automobile Dealers Assn. chairman and a dealer in Florida.