Komatsu has contributed $250,000 toward the AED Foundation’s Vision 2025, a project aimed at helping to increase the number of qualified technicians entering the equipment distribution industry.
“We recognize the imperative to build a talent pipeline for our distributors and the heavy equipment industry at large,” said Rod Bull, Komatsu executive vice president, North America Region. “Komatsu supports Vision 2025 and its focus on helping schools promote careers in the technical field to young people, who often aren’t aware of the great family-supporting jobs available in this industry.”
Research by the AED Foundation has found that the industry needs to fill an anticipated 73,500 heavy equipment technician positions over the next five years, and that the technician shortage is compounded by a gap in required skills and available training.
Vision 2025 aims to address these issues by growing the foundation’s impact to include a minimum of 120 accredited college programs (currently 71), and a minimum of 200 recognized high school programs (currently 36). If the project is successful, it has the potential to create a talent pipeline that includes an additional 10,000 skilled technicians entering the workforce, 5,000 AED Foundation-certified technicians and 500 AED Foundation-certified managers.
“Komatsu’s support, in conjunction with nearly 75 other investors, brings our Vision 2025 campaign to over $6 million. These investments provide the foundation the sustainability needed to continue to be the heavy equipment industry’s leader in workforce development,” said AED Foundation President Brian McGuire.
A total of $1.45 million has been pledged to the Vision 2025 campaign by Komatsu and its dealer network.