Technician shortage costing Canadian equipment dealers $800 million annually

A new report from Randall Reilly, produced in partnership with the Canada Equipment Dealers Foundation and the Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation, estimates Canada’s agricultural and construction equipment dealers face a shortage of more than 1,200 technicians each year.

The report found the shortage is costing Canadian dealers more than $800 million annually in lost revenue. It also found 80 per cent of Canadian dealers rated the difficulty of hiring technicians at four or higher on a five-point scale, while 78 per cent said they are unable to meet customer demand because of staffing shortages.

Researchers said technician retention remains a challenge, particularly among workers with two to five years of experience. The report found 79 per cent of U.S. technicians surveyed would consider leaving the industry for better pay and working conditions.

Survey respondents identified perceptions of skilled trades careers and workforce training gaps as two of the primary causes of ongoing labour shortages.

“Stakeholders almost universally agree that stigma around skilled labor and an educational system not designed for today’s workforce are at the heart of the shortage,” said Scott Miller, CEO of Randall Reilly.