Layoffs may be the evergreen story in the U.S. auto industry, but the gloomy headlines hide an important fact: in the retail and service sectors, automotive jobs are stable, mobile and financially rewarding. What’s more, auto service technician and mechanic jobs are more complex and intellectually challenging than ever before. The computers and electronic systems used in modern vehicles require specialized equipment and training; formal education is thus a prerequisite for many auto jobs. (An associate’s degree in mechanics or automotive technology can often be earned by trade school or community college students alongside on-the-job training at a dealership or service center.) The employment outlook is excellent for automotive careers in management and administration, sales and leasing, parts, and other sectors. As for automotive manufacturing jobs, many factories and parts and components companies continue to show high demand for managers, engineers and assembly workers.