At the 2018 Georgian Auto Show in Barrie, Ont., on June 1, the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), together with its provincial associations, officially launched the Auto Career Start program.

Auto Career Start will target Millennials, women, new Canadians and military veterans, and will make use of a new online platform, autocareerstart.com, which lists hundreds of jobs, and provides helpful auto career resources.

Through innovative marketing activities executed locally and nationally, the program will promote the diverse career opportunities that exist in the over 3,000 new car and truck dealerships throughout the country. Currently, auto dealerships employ 150,000 people nationwide, and that number is expected to rise.

“The auto sector is experiencing tremendous growth, and as a result, dealers across Canada are in immediate need of new talent to fill a variety of full-time positions—related to marketing, administration, IT, sales, parts, service, and management,” said Astrid Mauger, Marketing Specialist for CADA.

“Our market research, as well as nationwide anecdotal evidence, suggests that qualified job seekers are not aware of the great career opportunities that exist at auto dealerships,” said Mauger. “We now have a national plan to change that perception, and we look forward to using dynamic marketing methods to connect eager job seekers with quality employers.”

Earlier this year, an Abacus Data poll demonstrated that 68 percent of Millennials surveyed admitted never having considered working in an auto dealership.

During the official launch week, the Auto Career Start team is participating in two key events which are considered top gatherings for Canada’s future auto sector and skilled trades and technology workers:

• The Georgian Auto Show, held in Barrie June 1-3, which is the largest outdoor, student-run auto show in Canada, and boasts plenty of auto-related activities for all ages;
• The Skills Canada National Competition, held June 3-6 in Edmonton, is the country’s premier skilled trade and technology competition, where over 500 young adults compete to become champion in their respective discipline, and earn a spot on WorldSkills Team Canada.

“Dealers are enjoying unprecedented growth and have the jobs to offer,” said Mauger. “Auto Career Start will now provide a much-needed auto career platform. The secret is out: dealers are hiring—so come learn more!”