The automotive skills gap remains acute, according to data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) published by the IMI.
Its analysis of the September ONS data found motor trades vacancies at 20,000 with 3.5 vacancies for every 100 employees.
However, separate IMI analysis of job postings suggests employers have retracted recruitment plans over the last year, which is a serious concern for motorists requiring vehicle repairs and servicing.
Overall job postings reported in the IMI’s Labour Market Report, decreased by 38% year on year in July with 51% of these positions for vehicle technicians, mechanics, and electricians. It believes employer apathy, recruitment fatigue after failed hiring attempts, and economic caution are all contributing factors.
Automotive skills gap
Azlina Bulmer, managing director of the IMI, said:
“The proposed increase in employers NI contributions announced in the Autumn Budget Statement has the potential to impact recruitment as well as salaries, and this raises serious concerns that the already significant skills gap is only likely to be further exacerbated.
“Lack of access to qualified and continuously trained automotive experts presents a serious risk to road safety and social mobility, which we will raise in our response on behalf of our members to the government’s Industrial Strategy green paper: Invest 2035: The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.”
The IMI strongly believes that creating a pipeline of talent through apprenticeships, vocational training, and upskilling programmes is the only way to meet the urgent need for skills in the automotive sector. By integrating the sector into broader skills and industrial strategies, government can ensure that the UK not only meets its decarbonisation goals but also secures a leading position in the global automotive industry for decades to come.
Click the link to read the IMI Automotive Vacancies Report.
