Automotive market research firm IMR has released its 2024 Job Perceptions Report, revealing how many households and prospective employees feel about a career in the automotive repair industry.
The number of households actively encouraging their students to go to a four-year college increased from 45.6% last year to 51.6% this year, while the number of students interested in getting a job immediately after graduation fell to 25% from 33.8% in 2022.
However, the percentage of people hoping to find employment after graduation jumped from 84.5% last year to 87.4% this year.
Households with someone who has undergone vocational training are more likely to recommend vocational training as a career path, with 72.8% of households with family or friends in vocational training showing they are very likely to recommend such a decision. This figure marks a notable increase from the 64.6% reported in 2022.
Among families discussing professional careers, 46% recommended becoming an auto mechanic, the second most common recommendation after 46% who recommended aircraft maintenance and repair.
Rural households are at the top of recommending employment into vocational training, with 55.9% of those surveyed recommending it, but there is also a large increase in suburban households considering vocational training, rising to 50.1% this year from 41.6% in 2022. Urban households also recommend employment into vocational training, with 50.1% recommending it.
45% of those surveyed shared the view that an auto mechanic’s income can be equal to or greater than that of someone with a four-year college degree, a view especially prevalent among younger respondents. Additionally, 42.9% believe that pursuing a mechanic’s career path would be less of a financial burden.
Many households believe working as an auto mechanic is a viable career path, with 63.5% strongly agreeing with this statement. Hispanic households are especially likely to see this as a favorable career option.
However, people still feel there are barriers to women joining the workforce as auto mechanics: Only 21% of households fully agreed that there are abundant career opportunities for women in this field, a disappointing decrease from 26% in 2022.
Women surveyed were slightly more optimistic, with just 13% agreeing there was a lack of opportunities, down from 19% last year.
Regardless of feelings towards the profession, more than a third of respondents feel auto mechanics are often portrayed in a negative light. Respondents were also divided on the type of people looking to enter the field and whether the work is too physically demanding.
The full report has been published online and is currently available by filling out a form on the IMR website.
