Motor vacancy rates on ‘upward trajectory’

Training in the motor sector today. Tricky. It has long struggled to attract enough technicians. And it appears to be getting worse. So, are companies doing enough? Could they do more? Is it a question of industry perception? Or pay?

We checked out the views of the professional body for training in automotive, a college, a trade body for the independent sector and a recruitment and training group to get their a handle on the issue.

Steve Nash, CEO, of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) believes the industry is struggling to attract people into the sector and it is getting worse.  “Automotive vacancy rates have been on an upward trajectory with April the highest vacancy rate for the past 21 years. The other issue is the investment in skills once people are in the sector. While apprenticeship levels seem to be picking up, the focus on skills for the established workforce does not appear to be the priority right now.

“IMI data shows that there are currently only 3,000 technicians with qualifications eligible for IMI TechSafe, skilling them to work on vehicles featuring ADAS – a shortfall of 6,000 technicians to support the UK car parc. By 2030, when 44% of cars on UK roads will include ADAS, we calculate a shortfall of 51,000 qualified technicians,” he said.

Simon King, managing director, Autotech Group, said the skills shortage within the automotive aftermarket is a major issue. In early 2023 it surveyed workshop and garage managers and 75% revealed that they are finding it more difficult to recruit skilled staff compared to 12 months ago, with over 90% saying that they believed it would become increasingly challenging.

“This demonstrates that the automotive aftermarket’s recruitment landscape remains relatively unchanged, and if anything, employers are finding that the situation is impacting their businesses even more.”

According to King it is a candidate-driven market. “The industry has been losing talent to competing sectors for some time, and while skilled, technical staff have realised their worth and sought jobs offering better pay, benefits and prospects elsewhere, the automotive industry continues to fall behind.

“Technician wages have been rising over the last 12 months, which is good news, but greater emphasis needs to be placed on offering the right incentives to attract the best talent and investing in the right training and infrastructure to support the workforce as vehicles continue to evolve.”

King believes that demand for training is increasing, and this is having an impact on the market.

“Employers faced with a depleted talent pool, are taking on lower skilled technicians in order to train them to the standard required. What started as a division to upskill our network of contractors several years ago, Autotech Training has seen a significant rise in demand for technical and electric/hybrid training from the aftermarket and sectors which employ vehicle technicians, including the emergency services,” he said.

Stuart James, chief executive of the IGA, the trade body for independent garages, said that there are too few skilled technicians to meet market demand and the problem had deteriorated because of out-of-date stereotypes.

“The biggest asset of the UK repair sector is its people.  Skilled technicians are in the highest demand that I can recall from all my years in the industry, but we are not seeing enough bright young people choosing to make a career in our sector to replace the knowledge and experience we are losing through retirement. We need to act now to prevent a skills crisis.

“Why aren’t young people choosing to make a career in independent vehicle repair? We’re saddled with an out-of-date stereotype about what garage work involves,” he said.

Jonathan Harman, motor vehicle curriculum lead at Gloucestershire College, argues that the rise of electric vehicle sales is boosting demand for technicians with a new arsenal of tools.

“In light of the recent 40% surge in electric vehicle sales, there is a growing demand for the sector to ensure that its workforce possesses the necessary skills both in the present and to establish a strong talent pool for the future.

“We understand the importance of cultivating skills that are essential for the future, and our goal is to provide training programmes that are not only relevant and flexible, but also empower our learners to make a meaningful impact in their organisations and advance their careers.

“To achieve this, we continually invest in the development of our training programs and cutting-edge facilities and workshops. Our recently announced Autocare Technician Level 2 apprenticeship, which was designed in consultation with local employers, offers an excellent foundation for aspiring automotive professionals.

So, what’s the solution to the shortage of technician? Steve Nash at the IMI gets the final word.

“The career opportunities for those who choose automotive are immense, but we can’t rely on word of mouth to prove this. Therefore, working with the wide-ranging group of individuals and organisations who have spearheaded the IMI Diversity Task Force, we are embarking on a major campaign to change perceptions. The campaign, which will launch in August, will very clearly signpost the wide range of job roles and the opportunities that exist for a diverse workforce.”