Toronto, Ontario -- A Canadian collision repair franchise is working with a non-profit to help drive interest in the auto body sector among GTA job-seekers.
On August 25, two Simplicity Car Care representatives connected with dozens of job seekers at a Springboard employment fair held at Ceadervale Public Library. There, Kevin Ramos and Ahmad Abdalla met with people to discuss opportunities in various in-demand collision industry positions.
"It was a great opportunity to connect with dozens of talented individuals who are eager to take the next step in their careers," Ramos and Abdalla said in a social media post. "We truly enjoyed the conversations, hearing everyone’s stories, and sharing more about what it’s like to be part of our growing network of 100+ locations across Canada."
Springboard, which organized the fair, is a Toronto-based non-profit that provides employment training and support for people facing barriers to employment. The organization also offers services for people with developmental disabilities and operates a digital learning platform across Canada.
The move comes as many collision sector businesses struggle to find qualified employees. Last month, a Collision Repair survey found 92 percent of collision professionals say the industry is facing a major labour supply problem, according to a recent survey. Nearly 79 percent of shops say they are currently hiring, while 96 percent report difficulty securing skilled personnel.
Senior body technicians represent the most challenging positions to fill, with 46 per cent of shops identifying this role as their primary staffing concern. Painters account for 25 per cent of hiring difficulties, while 12.5 per cent of shops struggle to find junior body technicians.
The labour shortage has driven hiring activity across the sector, with 71 per cent of shops adding one to five staff members in the past year and 12.5 per cent bringing on six to 10 new employees.
Simplicity Car Care, which operates more than 100 locations across Canada, is seeking candidates for multiple positions including including repair planners, preppers, estimators, administrators, parts and production managers, general managers regional performance managers.
