AEDF and CEDF have release the 2026 Technician Shortage Research Report
Across Canada, construction and agriculture equipment dealers face an annual shortfall of about 1,263 technicians, which costs the industry an estimated CA$803 million each year in lost shop and parts revenue according to a new report.
The Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation (AEDF) partnered with the Canada Equipment Dealers Foundation (CEDF) to release the 2026 Technician Shortage Research Report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the workforce challenges facing Canada’s agriculture and construction equipment industry.
The report estimates that Canada will need to fill 26,500 equipment technician positions in the next 10 years.
“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. The AED Foundation has made great progress in helping dealers navigate the issue and will continue to support them in this journey.”
According to the report, 78 per cent of dealers report they cannot keep pace with customer demand because of the shortage, while 62 per cent say it has hindered their growth.
A lack of awareness about equipment industry careers continues to be a major driver of the shortage. The report notes that 62 per cent of dealers identified limited awareness of technician careers as a root cause, while 70 per cent pointed to an education system that does not adequately prepare students for skilled trades careers outside the traditional college pathway.
“The only problem we have is schools letting us in there to talk about our industry,” said Brian Osterndorff, CEO of Roberts Equipment.
For instance, Osterndorff, believes students would be more interested if they knew how tech-intensive the agriculture industry has become.
“Our advancements in technology are far more than the automotive industry. We’ve had self-driving before cars had it. That word is not getting out.”
Addressing the shortage
AEDF and CEDF are building awareness of the possible career paths and opportunities available within the equipment industry.
Through education, grants and workforce events, the organizations’ programs connect students directly with industry professionals, giving them an opportunity to learn about the wide range of careers available and envision a future in the industry.
In many cases, those connections have inspired students to pursue careers as equipment technicians.
In addition to documenting the workforce shortage, the report identifies solutions dealers believe will have the greatest impact. For example, expanding work-based learning opportunities and increasing subsidies or tax credits for employers who train technicians are ranked as the industry’s top priorities.
Dealers are also investing in recruitment and retention. According to the report, 72 per cent plan to increase technician pay this year. However, 25 per cent of dealers reported technician positions remaining vacant for more than 150 days.
“The CEDF sees this report as confirmation that the industry needs to strengthen the critical pipeline from schools to dealers,” said John Schmeiser, executive director of the CED Foundation. “The report provides a clear vision of how to move forward, not as individual organizations, but as an industry united in this effort throughout North America.”
The shortage stateside
The AED Foundation also released its 2026 Technician Shortage Research Report for the United States.
Stateside, agriculture and construction equipment dealers continue to face a shortage of about 10,000 diesel technicians annually, costing the industry an estimated $7 billion each year in lost shop and parts revenue.
Compared with the foundation’s 2016 workforce research, the technician shortage has grown significantly. A decade ago, the shortage was estimated to cost equipment dealers about $2.4 billion annually in lost shop and parts revenue.
Like Canada, the impact in the United States is evident across the industry, with 77 per cent of dealers saying the shortage is hindering business growth, 72 per cent reporting increased costs and operational inefficiencies, and 80 per cent unable to meet customer demand because of a lack of qualified technicians.
The full reports are available for download on the AED Foundation website at www.aedfoundation.org
