Automotive businesses struggle to fill roles

Over 80% of automotive bosses have admitted that, since the pandemic, they have found it increasingly difficult to recruit skilled staff.

A recent survey commissioned by Autotech Recruit showed that 90% of respondents said that workshop and technical roles are the hardest positions to fill.

“The skills shortage within the automotive industry is certainly not a new problem – it’s a direct consequence of years of under investment in training and recruiting younger generations,”

said Simon King, MD of Autotech Group.

“However, Brexit and the pandemic has exacerbated the issue, which is clearly illustrated within the results of our survey.  “The motor industry has the sixth highest vacancy rate of all UK industry sectors. Particularly concerning is the fact that almost all of those surveyed (90%) reported that workshop and technical roles are the hardest positions to fill. The situation is dire and requires immediate action.”

By 2030, the electric vehicle car parc will represent 27% of all vehicles on UK roads. However, just 4% of those surveyed revealed that all their technicians were trained to Level 2 electric/hybrid vehicle standard – and almost a third admitted that no technicians within their business had received any electric vehicle training.

King added:

“We are not working within a stagnant market, and this highlights the need for greater training for both existing and future staff.  “Vehicle technologies such as ADAS will have a significant impact on the market and technicians need to hold the relevant skill set to service this breed of vehicle. Inevitably, though, it is the switch to electric/hybrid vehicles which will shape the garage of the future, and it is concerning that so many of those surveyed have yet to train their technicians.  “Training needs to be an immediate priority for the aftermarket to meet not only the zero-emission future, but growing consumer demand, particularly as electric vehicles come out of their manufacturer warranty.”

Over 65% of businesses surveyed employed technicians over the age of 30, with just 1 in 5, reporting a majority workforce under the age of 29.  Encouragingly, over 61% said they had plans to employ apprentices, but the industry needs to significantly shift its focus and create more opportunities for younger generations.  King said: “As an industry, we specifically need to harness the talent of automotive college leavers who lack experience in the garage environment. We need to be more open to recruiting inexperienced young technicians with a view to helping them connect their theoretical knowledge to the work environment, to ensure they don’t disappear into other industries straight after college.”

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