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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.
OPA News Release: [05/18/2004]
Contact Name: Jane
Norris
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
U.S. Secretary of Labor Addresses American International
Automobile Dealers
WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today
addressed more than 500 members of the American International Automobile
Dealers Association (AIADA) at their Automotive Congress held at the J.W.
Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C.
“The Department of Labor recognizes that the skilled trades are
crucial to America’s future,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L.
Chao. “Yet the automobile industry is facing a shortage of skilled
technicians. That’s why the Labor Department provided a $600,000 grant to
Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) for an exit exam to test the
proficiency of service technician students.”
The Labor Department, with Industry and Union leaders, is advancing
skilled trades careers through the Skills to Build America’s
Future initiative. The initiative is a nationwide outreach and
education effort designed to attract young people and transitioning workers to
careers in the skilled trades. As the baby boom generation retires, demand for
skilled trades workers is expected to increase.
To promote skilled trades recruitment in the automotive industry, the
Department of Labor is working in conjunction with dealer associations and AYES
to recruit and train high school students for careers as skilled automotive
technicians. Participating high schools, automotive manufacturers and
sponsoring dealer associations have also added training funds—more than $1
million in direct and in-kind contributions.
“Nationally, we’ve seen eight straight months of job
creation,” continued Chao. “The President’s economic plan is
working and more than one million new jobs have been created since last August.
These gains have been widespread across all sectors.”
AIADA is the national trade association representing over 10,000
American automobile dealers who own franchises for international nameplate
automobiles. AIADA members employ over 500,000 American workers.
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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.
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