The U.S. equipment industry's greatest challenge is the lack of skilled workers, Diane Benck, general operations manager and co-owner of West Side Tractor Sales. Co., told the U.S. House Small Business Committee's Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development today.
Benck served as AED's (Associated Equipment Distributors) first chairwoman in 2018 and is currently on the board of directors of The AED Foundation.
West Side Tractor, based in Lisle, Illinois, is a family-owned John Deere construction and forestry equipment dealer operating in northern Illinois, southern Michigan and Indiana.
Highlighting the obstacles faced by small businesses, Benck told the committee that the most enduring, long-term issue facing the equipment industry is finding qualified diesel service technicians.
"There are many hurdles that small, family-owned, capital-intensive businesses face, including supply chain issues, inflation and an everchanging regulatory and tax environment. However, the most persistent, which has lasted for decades, is the lack of skilled workers," said Benck.
Citing an AED Foundation study by researchers at the College of William & Mary, which found that AED members forgo more than $2.4 billion in revenue due to the lack of skilled workers, Benck emphasised the economic impact and inefficiencies created by the shortage. "Please understand, when equipment dealers don't have the skilled workforce needed to repair and maintain heavy equipment, construction projects are delayed, costing contractors and our other customers in lost time and money," said Benck. "It truly creates inefficiencies up and down the supply chain."
Benck explained that well-paying, rewarding careers as service technicians await those with the qualifications to work in an ever more high-tech profession. Emphasising the great work AED and The AED Foundation are doing to tackle the industry's workforce issues, she commented, "We continue to push our kids to pursue four-year degrees, when there are millions upon millions of jobs in the skilled trades open, which require taking on minimal debt and an opportunity to work toward the American dream."
Benck concluded by urging policymakers, business leaders and educators to work together to close the skills gap. "To address the issue, the country must provide increased funding to career and technical education programs to build the pipeline of skilled workers and incentivise students to pursue alternatives to four-year degrees," said Benck. "As a nation, it's imperative that we steer the next generation to careers in the skilled trades and align public policy and investments to growing this important workforce for our future."
Benck's written testimony is available here.
