Over 500 students from 16 high schools and community colleges attended The Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association (GLANCDA) Career Fair at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show^®), held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles. The Career Fair, hosted for the fourth consecutive year, is a major demonstration of GLANCDA’s ongoing commitment to grow a skilled workforce in the automotive service sector of new car dealerships.  

“Promoting lucrative career offerings with continuous training and support at new car dealerships in Los Angeles County is a major focus for the association,” said Evan Ellis, GLANCDA board member and general manager of Fiat and Alfa Romeo of Glendale, addressing the students at the career fair. “One of the association’s highest priorities is making sure that money and resources are directed to our community college partners across the region.”

GLANCDA invited aspiring automotive technology workers from local community colleges and high schools, introducing them to active industry members seeking to expand their workforce. Students who attended the career fair had face-to-face interactions with new car dealership managers to discuss potential work opportunities. After the career fair, students were able to walk the show floors and learn about the latest technology in the automotive industry.

“I was able to meet a lot of new people and give them information about myself,” said Charlie Mendes, an automotive technology student at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. “[One hiring dealer] said they were very interested in me because of the certificates I have. I’m hoping to get a call from them in the future and work for the dealership.”

With the unprecedented demand for service employees at new car dealerships, wages for service employees are rising at a faster pace than sales employees. Currently, the average dealership employee earns $75,000 per year.

“This opportunity is extremely important for our students. The industry is looking for automotive technicians at every level, whether it be entry level, mid-level, or even management,” said Steve Tomory, automotive technology instructor at Rio Hondo College. “I’m so glad to be here with my students and have GLANCDA recognize the community colleges and especially the students in this field of great opportunity.”

As of November 2022, there are over 1,500 open technician positions across Southern California while dealerships are selling and servicing more vehicles in Southern California alone than most states.

“I tell my students all the time, one door opens another,” said Dean Tedtaotao, instructor at Cerritos College and shop superintendent in the fleet division of the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works. “The fact that students make it here, on their own, and they’re talking face-to-face with [active industry members], not on Zoom, is invaluable.”

Additionally, with California’s focus on electric vehicles and goal to eliminate new internal combustion engines by 2035, the demand for service technicians will grow even greater. According to the State of California Energy Commission, in the first three fiscal quarters of 2022, over 1.4 million zero emission vehicles were sold in California. Ensuring there is a specialized workforce that can properly service electric vehicles will be a high priority for new car dealers for decades to come.

GLANCDA is working to ensure this demand is met. At the career fair, GLANCDA announced grants of $10,000 each to the automotive technology programs at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Pasadena College, and Rio Hondo College. Over the years, GLANCDA and its franchise dealer members have supported local educational institutions and their automotive training programs by giving more than $500,000 in donations used for student scholarships, program enhancements, facility upgrades, and other related initiatives. “The auto industry continues to grow and innovate, and that means a skilled workforce is needed to meet the demand for services and support the changing technology in modern vehicles,” said Bob Smith, Executive Director of GLANCDA. “GLANCDA understands this need for skilled workers and has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to supporting college programs and students pursuing auto industry careers.”