According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of automotive body repairers is expected to grow as fast as average for all occupations through the year 2014. The need to replace experienced repairers who transfer to other occupations or who retire or stop working for other reasons will account for the majority of job openings. Opportunities will be best for persons with formal training in automotive body repair and refinishing. Those without formal training in automotive body refinishing or collision repair will face competition for these jobs.

Demand for qualified body repairers will increase as the number of motor vehicles in operation continues to grow in line with the Nation’s population. With each rise in the number of motor vehicles in use, the number of vehicles damaged in accidents also will grow. New automobile designs increasingly have body parts made of steel alloys, aluminum, and plastics—materials that are more difficult to work with than are traditional steel body parts. In addition, new automotive designs of lighter weight are prone to greater collision damage than are older, heavier designs, so more time is consumed in repair.

A new $3.5 million dollar welding and auto body facility is being planned and should be complete in the fall of 2008. These funds were provided by the Measure E bond.

Faculty

• Jeff Beebe

• Auto Body Courses

Erik Andal, Coordinator
andale@yosemite.cc.ca.us
209.588.5200

Merlin Bart, Lab Technician
mailto:bartm@yosemite.cc.ca.us
2090.588.5159