IMI reports improving automotive skills gap

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has reported a modest reduction in vacancies in the automotive industry during June.

Its latest Vacancy Rate Tracker, based on data from the Office of National Statistics, revealed that vacancies in the sector fell from 3.7 per 100 employees to 3.6 during the month.

This means automotive remains second in the ‘Vacancies by Sector’ chart, behind hospitality (3.8).

The data suggests that there are still approximately 20,000 automotive vacancies in the UK, across more than 200 varied roles.

Improving automotive skills gap

Kevin Finn, executive chair at the IMI, said: “At the half-year point we can see clear evidence of a steady chipping away of the skills gap in the automotive sector. However, the numbers remain small, reflecting the huge task that still faces employers.

“One of the most significant challenges is the technological advances in automotive, which means each vacancy is competing against tech roles across a wider range of industries. It’s critical, therefore, that we do everything we can to change perceptions of what a career in automotive offers to effectively attract talent from other sectors.”