Reasons Behind the Skilled Labor Shortage Aging Workforce: Many skilled technicians and dealership staff are reaching retirement age, creating a significant gap in experienced labor. Educational Emphasis: There has been a shift away from vocational training in favor of academic pursuits, resulting in fewer young people entering trade professions like equipment technicians. Economic Cycles: The construction equipment industry experiences cyclicality, which affects workforce stability. During economic downturns, skilled workers may leave the industry or retire early, and when the economy rebounds, there is often a struggle to attract new talent. Perception and Recruitment: There is a persistent perception that technicians… Read More »
On May 24 and 25, the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA) hosted its Workforce Development Summit: Innovative Solutions for Hiring and Retention in Grand Island, NE, and Ankeny, IA, respectively. These summits focused on collaboration and gave attendees the opportunity to share their experiences and ideas, as well as develop action plans to take home to their dealerships. We also heard directly from a panel of students about what they are looking for in a future employer. The level of engagement and honesty from members was unprecedented, as they were able to see each other as experts and trust one… Read More »
We know finding and keeping employees is one of the biggest challenges our dealerships are facing right now. Sign up today for the FREE workshop on workforce retention.
[Author: INEDA Staff, 05.2020 | Keywords: Recruiting, Workforce Development] The stakes are high. Recruiting and retaining technicians will be one of the top three success factors in the ag and construction equipment industry over the next 10 to 15 years. And whoever figures out the workforce equation is going to be in the driver’s seat. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of diesel service technicians and mechanics is projected to grow nearly 13% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. The agency also said 67,000 technicians will be needed to replace retired workers,… Read More »
