By Eve 
Ford is facing a growing shortage of qualified mechanics at a time when its service centers are busier than ever. With more than a hundred recalls logged this year, workloads continue to climb, yet the company still has roughly 5,000 vacant technician positions. Despite dealerships offering salaries that can reach $120,000 a year—nearly double the national average income—the automaker is struggling to attract enough workers.
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The challenge stems from the demanding nature of the job. Ford leadership has emphasized that becoming a skilled technician requires years of training, often up to five, before workers can confidently handle complex tasks. Jobs like removing a diesel engine from a heavy-duty pickup require precision and experience, reinforcing why the company can’t simply fill roles overnight.
Ford’s concerns mirror broader labor issues across the country. Openings in essential fields such as emergency services, trucking, manufacturing, plumbing, and electrical work continue to climb. Industry data shows a major gap in training the next generation of workers, with a shortage of more than 30,000 trained automotive technicians each year. Federal labor projections estimate nearly 68,000 openings annually for mechanics through 2033, underscoring the scale of the problem.
This shortage is already affecting customers. Repair delays have become increasingly common as dealerships stretch limited technicians across multiple service centers to keep up with demand. Some repairs now take weeks simply because there aren’t enough trained workers available to handle them.
As automakers and service industries continue to face rising workloads and shifting technology, the widening gap in skilled trades threatens to slow everything from routine vehicle maintenance to major industrial operations. Ford’s struggle highlights a labor issue that extends far beyond the showroom floor.
Shawn Henry