AUTOMOTIVE VACANCIES CONTINUE TO RISE

The latest Automotive Labour Market Briefing from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has revealed that the sector’s job vacancy rate continues to rise while rates in most other industries have fallen. The current vacancy rate for motor trades is 5.1 – a 20 year high and the highest rate on record.

CEO Steve Nash commented: “Vacancy rates increased across all industries after the pandemic, but the motor industry hasn’t bounced back like most other sectors. In fact, while other parts of the UK economy saw vacancies fall as posts were filled, the motor industry vacancy rate has continued to rise, underlining the systemic problem we face in that perceptions of the sector as a good career destination are not positive. Only the hospitality sector has a higher vacancy rate which highlights the immense difficulties currently faced by businesses in the automotive sector.”

With businesses struggling to fill vacancies, advertising for apprentices has grown since 2020. Job postings have increased by 55% in the past 6 months and are more than double 2021 numbers.

“It is encouraging to see employers focusing on apprenticeships – it’s absolutely right to get people interested in automotive from the start of their careers”, added Steve Nash. “We also need to appeal to people who are thinking of changing career. And we need to address the misperceptions about the opportunities that exist as automotive technology evolves. In response the IMI will be launching a major Perceptions campaign at the British Motor Show later this year.”