The AED Foundation recently released its 2026 Technician Shortage Research Report, providing a comprehensive assessment of the equipment technician workforce crisis.
Building on the Foundation's 2016 study, the new report incorporates perspectives from equipment dealers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), technical schools, and equipment technicians.
The report confirms the technician shortage remains one of the greatest obstacles facing equipment dealers across North America. Construction and agriculture equipment dealers continue to face a shortage of approximately 10,000 diesel technicians annually.
"For more than a decade, the AED Foundation has made workforce development its highest priority because the future of our industry depends on it," said Ron Barlet, Chairman of the AED Foundation and President of Bejac Corp. "This report confirms the technician shortage remains one of our greatest challenges, but it also provides a roadmap for how dealers, manufacturers, educators, and industry partners can work together to build a stronger workforce across North America."
In the Foundation's 2016 workforce research, the technician shortage was estimated to cost equipment dealers approximately $2.4 billion annually in lost shop and parts revenue. Today, construction and agriculture equipment dealers face a shortage of approximately 10,000 diesel technicians each year, resulting in an estimated $7 billion in annual lost shop and parts revenue.
| Your local Komatsu America Corp dealer |
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| Continental Equipment Corp (CEC) |
Seventy-seven percent of dealers said the shortage is hindering business growth, 72 percent reported increased costs and operational inefficiencies, and 80 percent said they’re unable to meet customer demand because of a lack of qualified technicians.
Beyond documenting the challenges, the report identifies common priorities shared by dealers, manufacturers, educators, and technicians, including:
- Expanding career awareness
- Strengthening industry education partnerships
- Increasing work-based learning opportunities
The report concludes with six industry priorities designed to help stakeholders address the technician shortage through coordinated, long-term action.
"The AED Foundation has made it a priority to connect industry with education," said Sean Fitzgerrel, Vice President of the AED Foundation. "Research helps us understand the challenge, but our mission is to help solve it. Through accredited college programs, recognized high school partnerships, instructor development, career awareness initiatives, and relationships with dealers and manufacturers, we're building a stronger workforce pipeline that will support the equipment industry for years to come."
| Your local Deere & Co dealer |
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| AIS Construction Equipment |
While the report highlights the growing workforce shortage facing the equipment industry, the AED Foundation has achieved significant milestones toward its 2027 goals for strengthening the talent pipeline, including:
- 106 Accredited Colleges across North America, with a goal of reaching 120 by 2027.
- 155 Recognized High School Programs, with a goal of expanding to 200 by 2027.
- More than 5,000 certified technicians, surpassing the Foundation's 2027 certification goal ahead of schedule.
- 8,590 workforce entries into the equipment industry, closing in on the goal of 10,000 by 2027.
- More than $10.2 million raised to support workforce development initiatives, exceeding the Foundation's $10 million fundraising goal ahead of schedule.
The 2026 Technician Shortage Research Report is available as a free download at aedfoundation.org.
Graphic courtesy of the AED Foundation’s 2026 Technician Shortage Research Report
