New partnership with Mooresville technical school to bridge gap in auto tech shortage

MOORESVILLE, NC — When students at Universal Technical Institute in Mooresville graduate, they'll be able to handle almost any type of car. There are about 1,000 students currently enrolled at the campus. In 2017, 84% of students got a job in their field within a year.

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Zach Wood said he served our country right out of high school. When he left the Army last year, it was his dream to work on cars. Wood said he'll graduate from the school as a level 2 auto tech. He said he could end up working for companies like Dodge or Mercedes and make up to $60,000 a year.

"So we get better pay benefits, normally more electrical knowledge which is something that dealerships are really looking for," said Wood.

Even though Wood is from Iowa, he hopes to land a job in North Carolina.

John Dodson, vice president of business alliances and NASCAR for UTI, said, "About half of our students come from the Carolinas and they go back home and fill those jobs."

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics said the auto industry desperately needs an additional 46,000 techs by 2026 to meet the growing demand nationwide.

President of Icahn Automotive, Brian Kaner, a company which owns auto companies like Pep Boys, said it's always looking for good talent.

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The company announced a new partnership with the school Tuesday to help fill the gap by 2026. The new program will be integrated into the campus, literally, in classrooms and with car parts. They are also offering up big money. Each year,12 students will get scholarships worth $30,000.

Kaner said, "Most entry level techs are making minimum wage plus some sort of commission on the work they do, but I think we're in a position where we can take them all the way up to a shop owner."

The company will also offer tuition reimbursement and apprentice programs, intership programs, and help with job placement and education opportunities.

Cox Media Group