Recently commissioned Economic Impact Study shows TAP generated $22.1 million in added income for Texas in 2024

Program's economic impact equivalent to supporting nearly 300 jobs statewide

The Caliber family of automotive repair and service brands, including Caliber Collision and Caliber Auto Glass, today announced the results of its recently commissioned Economic Impact Study on the company’s Technician Apprentice Program (TAP) and its impact on the Texas economy. TAP, Caliber’s proprietary, competency-based training program, pairs apprentices with experienced, best-in-class collision repair technicians for paid, hands-on and in-shop training where apprentices gain the knowledge and skills they need for a lasting career in collision repair.

Lightcast, an independent third-party global leader in labor market analytics, completed the study, focused on TAP’s impact in Texas from 2022 to 2024.

Key Highlights of Economic Impact Study on TAP:

• Current and former apprentices currently employed in the state contributed to $22.1 million in added income in 2024, the equivalent of supporting 288 jobs.
• Texas businesses gained $39,542 in income per apprentice from TAP in 2024.
• Apprentices who completed the TAP program and maintained employment with Caliber saw an increase in average earnings of $14.59 per hour compared to the average pre-program earnings.
• Apprentices who complete the program receive a cumulative present value of $302 million in increased earnings over their working lives, translating to approximately $540,332 in lifetime earnings potential per apprentice.
• Texas taxpayers gain $115.2 million (present value) in added tax revenue and public sector savings across apprentices’ working lives, translating to $206,013 per apprentice.
• Texas’ social savings amounted to $3.2 million in added state income per apprentice across their working lives.

Executive Commentary

“These results not only prove the value of Caliber’s comprehensive TAP but also demonstrate with resounding evidence the positive impact that similar investments in workforce development can have across other industries nationwide,” said David Simmons, CEO of Caliber. “The U.S. is facing a shortage of skilled technicians, and collision repair is equally affected as veteran technicians retire, and fewer younger generation workers enter skilled trades. TAP is a great alternative for those looking to enter a career that promises exceptional career opportunities while directly benefiting the local economy.”

“This analysis demonstrates that Caliber creates a strong impact on the Texas business community and generates benefits for apprentices, taxpayers and society alike,” continued Mr. Simmons. “By supplying a steady flow of qualified, trained workers to the auto body technician workforce, TAP enriches the lives of apprentices, all while benefiting Texas as a whole.”

“The success of our TAP reinforces Caliber's ongoing commitment to workforce development and skills training,” said Caliber Chief Operating Officer Todd Dillender. “Every technician had a mentor at some point in their careers, and this provides an opportunity to provide the same opportunity to the next generation. We invest significantly to fund TAP across all of our participating locations which has provided enormous benefits, including ushering in the next generation of skilled technicians, retaining our current veteran technicians and mentors, and also ensuring we provide customers with the highest quality repairs and experience. With this success, we also plan to establish similar competency-based skills training programs in glass and scanning/calibration.”

Since TAP’s inception in 2021, 559 Texas-based apprentices have either successfully completed the program or are still enrolled across 125+ locations. To date nationwide, Caliber has graduated approximately 2,300 apprentices across its 1,800+ locations in 41 states.

TAP directly tackles the nationwide shortage of skilled laborers, while supporting Caliber’s commitment to inspire every teammate to reach their full potential. The program generally lasts 12-18 months, and graduates – who are under no obligation to remain with Caliber and have no repayment obligations – receive three industry-recognized certifications, a free starter tool kit and opportunity for employment at any Caliber location.

Texas Workforce Commission

Caliber commissioned the Economic Impact Study as part of its grant application for the Texas Workforce Commission, the state’s agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas. Caliber used funding from the grant to offset Caliber’s investment in mentor wages and training costs for a portion of its Texas-based apprentices during the grant period.

During the grant period, Caliber exceeded its goal of attracting 125 apprentices, reporting more than 150 apprentices entering its program during the grant period.

To highlight Caliber’s strong impact on the Texas economy, Todd Dillender, Chief Operating Officer, and Max Sorensen, Senior Vice President of Operations, attended the Texas Workforce Apprenticeship Conference held in Dallas on Sept. 25, 2025, as the first employer ever invited to present independently without an educational or third-party partner. Todd and Max delivered opening remarks to discuss the impact of TAP and how its success was built from the ground up, showcasing how Caliber identified the need and took ownership to create a scalable solution.

About Caliber

Founded in 1997, the Caliber portfolio of brands has grown to more than 1,800 centers nationwide and features a full range of complementary automotive services, including Caliber Collision, the nation's largest auto collision repair provider across 41 states, and Caliber Auto Glass for glass repair and replacement.

With the purpose of Restoring the Rhythm of Your Life^®, Caliber's more than 30,000 teammates are committed to getting customers back on the road safely - and back to the rhythm of their lives. Dedicated to providing an outstanding customer experience, Caliber continues to rank among the highest customer satisfaction scores in the industry.

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