Are Skilled Trades Careers More Secure in the A.I. World?

by Kevin Gallerani, AASP/MA President

Artificial intelligence (AI) has a lot of people scared. As these machines learn more and more, their development of skills often surpasses what human beings are capable of doing, especially in terms of productivity.

But if you’re paying attention to what’s actually happening, you’ll see the same thing I’ve noticed – the workers who are actually being displaced by AI are white collar workers, not those of us in the skilled trades.

Just take a look at the situation at GM a couple months ago when the company laid off 1,000 workers globally. Those impacted mostly worked in the software and services division – in white collar positions – as GM decided to explore more uses of AI. 

When AI does impact blue collar positions, it seems to happen in the manufacturing and retail industries which are easier to automate than industries such as collision repair where the differences in makes and models creates a multitude of variances in how each vehicle is repaired…variances which change with each model year and can even vary within the same year, make and model based on the unique ADAS systems installed on that specific vehicle. 

AI plays a role in our world by assisting shops with customer service calls and even writing estimates (and although those estimates aren’t all that accurate, they’re still better than what most insurance appraisers do!) Yet, no programs have been created to actually repair cars, and though the day may eventually arrive when AI tools have a place in the shop, it seems likely that it will be used to make our jobs easier, rather than replacing repairers altogether. 

So, I believe AI is good news for our industry! It can replace white collar jobs, but it’s much harder to replace blue collar workers, especially skilled auto body technicians. After all these years of shops needing technicians and losing talented young people to other fields, those fields are now being replaced by AI; a lot of those white collar jobs are being staffed by machines, so those entry-level careers that kids planned to start after college are being eradicated altogether. As AI continues to develop over the next 10 years, we can expect to see an influx of young people pursuing collision careers. 

These kids are going to be interested in learning skills where they can find secure positions that cannot be replaced by AI, but that means we need to do a better job of marketing our industry to them. 

Are we ready to take advantage of this imminent opportunity? Shops need to poise themselves to attract these young technicians by showing that this is a profession worth working in. Work on your OEM certifications, invest in equipment and tools that make the job easier, and don’t be afraid to embrace the future of collision repair in its many forms – whether that means getting set up for ADAS calibrations, offering competitive benefits or ensuring that your shop employees are prepared for a diverse workforce as more women join this field.

This next generation isn’t going to want to weigh themselves down with huge, lifelong college loans when they can learn a skill that will pay off in no time, and while we may not have to compete with AI, we are competing with other trades that will offer just as much security, so we need to make sure that we’re putting our best foot forward to keep our industry moving forward.

Want more? Check out the October 2024 issue of New England Automotive Report!