Students recently gathered at the 3M Skills Development Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the SkillsUSA Minnesota Automotive Refinish and Collision Repair contest - a hands-on challenge set in a real-world environment.
As competitors tackled tasks like sanding and smoothing body filler on a dented auto body panel, a massive digital clock counted the minutes until their next challenge.
The looming timer not only kept them on schedule, it recreated the pressure of a busy body shop. That intensity pushed contestant Yezebel Stepp into what she called a “flow state.”
“The timer gets you thinking,” Yezebel said during a break from the contest. “It’s stressful, but a good stressful. I like working under pressure and a deadline.”
The event not only introduced students to the pace of a professional body shop, it also highlighted the strong demand for skilled trades talent and the well-paying careers available. Contest winners will join more than 6,000 other winners from around the nation in head-to-head competitions at the SkillsUSA championships in June in Atlanta.
Yezebel, a student at Dakota County Technical College who also works at a body shop in Eagan, Minnesota, said she would encourage younger students to think about their future to consider one of the skilled trades, like autobody repair.
“I’d tell kids to look into the trades,” she said. “I see myself in it for a long time.”
The workforce gap facing collision repair
The automotive collision repair industry faces a significant shortage of trained technicians. By 2030, North America will need an estimated 100,000 additional workers. With the average technician now over 45, industry leaders say early engagement is essential.
“A contest brings attention to the trade,” said Dan Wittek, director of global application engineering in 3M’s automotive aftermarket division. “It lets us talk about the need for workers and show young people they can have a good career and support a family.”
3Mers like Dan dedicate their knowledge and time to support SkillsUSA students as part of 3M’s “Together, we give” campaign, which aims to contribute more than 160,000 volunteer hours in 2026.
How 3M and SkillsUSA are building career pathways
3M partners with SkillsUSA through hands-on competitions, leadership programming and events that celebrate and support students pursuing technical careers. These activities give students opportunities to practice their skills and learn about real-world paths across the skilled trades.
“SkillsUSA is a great organization,” said Elise Hagfors, application engineer in 3M’s automotive aftermarket division. “They focus on students and make sure they have a path to move forward.”
For more than 120 years, 3M has been innovating and creating solutions that help people, and supporting the growth of skilled trades remains a core part of that legacy. Across schools and local communities, the company aims to encourage students and their parents to explore viable STEM and skilled trade careers.
Broader workforce development beyond collision repair
The urgency facing collision repair reflects a broader challenge across manufacturing. The National Association of Manufacturers estimates the industry could see up to 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030, underscoring the need for early workforce development, expanded access to technical training and programs that prepare students for high-demand careers.
3M’s efforts in education and training are part of a broader strategy to promote economic mobility and support local workforce initiatives. By investing in hands-on learning, emerging technologies and community partnerships, 3M is working to equip students and future workers with the skills needed to succeed in advanced manufacturing and the skilled trades.
FAQ: 3M and SkillsUSA autobody repair competition
1. What is the 3M and SkillsUSA autobody repair competition?
The 3M and SkillsUSA autobody repair competition is a hands-on student event focused on automotive refinish, collision repair, autobody repair training and skilled trades education. The competition helps students build real-world technical skills and explore collision repair careers and autobody technician jobs.
2. How does 3M help prepare future collision repair technicians?
3M helps prepare future collision repair technicians by supporting hands-on learning, autobody repair training, technical education and career exploration in skilled trades. Through events at the 3M Skills Development Center, students gain exposure to real-world collision repair work, industry expectations and technician career pathways.
3. Why are collision repair technicians in high demand?
Collision repair technicians are in high demand because the automotive collision repair industry faces a major labor shortage. According to the story, North America will need an estimated 100,000 additional collision repair workers by 2030, making skilled trades workforce development a growing priority.
4. Why is there a shortage of autobody and collision repair workers?
The shortage of autobody and collision repair workers is linked to an aging skilled trades workforce and the need to attract younger talent into automotive repair careers. With the average technician over 45, employers and industry leaders are focused on training the next generation of collision repair technicians.
5. How are 3M and SkillsUSA helping close the skilled trades workforce gap?
3M and SkillsUSA are helping close the skilled trades workforce gap through student competitions, leadership programming, technical skills development, workforce training and career pathway support. These efforts help students explore collision repair jobs, autobody careers and other high-demand skilled trades careers.
6. What careers can students pursue after autobody repair training and SkillsUSA competitions?
Students who participate in autobody repair training and SkillsUSA competitions can pursue careers in collision repair, autobody repair, automotive refinish, vehicle repair, advanced manufacturing and other skilled trades fields. These programs help students prepare for entry-level technical careers and long-term growth in the industry.
7. What happens after students win the SkillsUSA Minnesota collision repair competition?
Students who win the SkillsUSA Minnesota collision repair competition advance to the SkillsUSA Championships in Atlanta, where they compete against other top students in automotive refinish and collision repair competitions from across the country.
8. How is 3M supporting workforce development beyond collision repair?
3M supports workforce development beyond collision repair by investing in education, technical training, hands-on STEM learning, emerging technologies, manufacturing career readiness and community workforce partnerships. These efforts are designed to support economic mobility, advanced manufacturing careers and skilled trades talent development.
