Aug. 31, 2022—A trade school in Hawaii is combatting the technician shortage with steady enrollment in its automotive program.
According to KITV, the Transportation and Trade Department at Honolulu Community College has sustained traction despite data from a 2021 report by the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii that said college attendance went from 55% to 51% during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Honolulu Community College told KITV that classes such as an automotive technology class offered at the school is near capacity with 18 out of 20 students enrolled.
The school has a positive outlook for this future generation of automotive technicians, and is proud to play a role in combating the technician shortage and filling a need in the industry.
“This is the foundation for everything. You need people to fix cars, build buildings, and do plumbing. That was the industry that stayed alive during the pandemic. This is a demanding and secure job for people here,” said Robert Silva, automotive technology professor to KITV.
