BEACHWOOD, Ohio -

The shortage of trained auto mechanics has been the subject of many news articles. Matrix Trade Institute’s 20-week accelerated auto mechanic training program is working to ease that shortage.

Noting the great demand for auto mechanics as many mechanics approach retirement and not enough prospective mechanics are looking to enter the profession, Matrix Trade Institute says it has trained more than 80 mechanics in northeast Ohio since it started out at the beginning of this year.

Matrix Trade Institute co-founder Dustin Peugeot says his company works toward “igniting careers.”

“If you want to learn the trade, we can get you there faster and more efficiently with interactive learning technology and hands-on skill and efficiency training,” Peugeot said in a news release.

The institute also trains local dealerships and auto repair shops in increasing their workforce’s efficiency. Matrix says its Upskill Efficiency Bootcamps helps dealerships and shops improve retention and recruiting efforts.

Matrix says it uses “upskilling” and efficiency training to help boost productivity, wages, and growth opportunities. The institute says it has helped “progressive organizations” such as Penske, Conrad’s, and Sunnyside.

Peugeot said shops that use “focused, off-site, hands-on education” to retain employees “never has a recruitment problem.”

“That’s what we're designed for,” Peugeot added. “We’re the lever businesses need to be better than the competition, produce more today, and prepare for tomorrow as the talent gap widens.”