Department of Labor Awards Grant to Help Address Critical Auto Dealership Workforce Shortage

Automotive Retailing Today to Gather Key Industry Data on Career Opportunities

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 6 -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration announced a $150,000 grant to Automotive Retailing Today (ART) as part of the Administration's High Growth Job Training Initiative to build America's auto dealership workforce.

Through the grant, ART and its partners will gather, validate and deliver information and data about career opportunities in the automotive industry to career-related websites and to public workforce development professionals. This information will describe viable and exciting career opportunities; connect job seekers to training opportunities and job openings in the field; and dispel negative presumptions that the general public may have about the industry.

"The automotive services sector faces the critical challenge of developing a pipeline of skilled workers for jobs that will be available in the industry," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "Automotive Retailing Today has shown its commitment to educating young people and workers about new and exciting careers in this evolving field by providing industry data and information to the public workforce system that will help connect job seekers to training opportunities and job openings in the automotive industry."

ART has a strong history of providing leading-edge auto retail career information. In February 2004, ART introduced http://www.autojobstoday.org/, a dedicated online resource that serves as a clearinghouse for auto industry service technician career program information. Designed and launched in collaboration with military and education professionals, as well as with the Department of Labor, http://www.autojobstoday.org/ includes information on careers, salaries and training.

"We're very excited about continuing our partnership with the Department of Labor," said Alan Starling, chairman of ART. "Together we can attract qualified workers to America's auto dealerships, educate the public on the many available career opportunities and benefits, and build a ready workforce for America's franchise auto dealerships."

ART, a coalition of all major automobile manufacturers and dealer organizations, works to narrow the gap between perception and reality of today's franchised automobile dealers among the media and consumers. Another goal of ART is to promote a better understanding of dealer sales and service business practices, career opportunities, and contributions to the community. For more information, visit http://www.autoretailing.org/.