Analysis suggests aftermarket employers have pulled back on recruitment, with the sector stuck with a major 20,000 vacancies hole.
Data from the Office of National Statistics shows there are 3.5 vacancies for every 100 employees in the aftermarket as the sector faces a 20 year high in unfilled jobs. Separate data suggests 11,400 roles will be needed in the next 10 years for the industry to transition to the electric era.
What’s more, 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”, says the lobby group.
Overall job postings reported in the IMI’s Labour Market Report, decreased by 38% year on year (July 2024) with 51% of these positions for Vehicle Technicians, Mechanics, and Electricians.
This lack of workers means motorists face continued delays to servicing and repairs.
A complicated mix of factors are likely to be behind this decline, the reports states, including employer apathy and recruitment fatigue after failed hiring attempts, combined with caution due to economic uncertainty.
“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”, said Azlina Bulmer, managing director of the IMI.
“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.”
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