Autotech Recruit delivers skills gap deep dive

Autotech Recruit has delved deeply into the current skills crisis to identify the extent the challenge and the areas where it is most acute.

Its annual recruitment survey, which took responses from over 100 automotive industry professionals, revealed that more than half of respondents said a lack of skills was impacting their ability to meet demand (52%) and maximise profitability (56%).

Meanwhile, when it comes to specific job roles, 70% cited vehicle technician as one of the most difficult role to fill with over 65% admitting that sourcing specialist EV and hybrid technicians is difficult. Furthermore, 50% expect recruitment to become even more difficult next year.

Encouragingly though, 71% do still plan to recruit for permanent roles next year, and 73% are actively seeking to attract young talent – through apprenticeships and paid internships.

In terms of retention, the survey found that 95% of respondents offered salary increases last year, with approximately 60% of these above inflation increases, while three quarters expect further above-inflation hikes in wages next year.

Training is also a key focus for businesses aiming to keep staff, with 53% prioritising training and 71% naming EV and hybrid training as a priority for next year.

The survey also highlighted a growing dependence of temporary workers, with 49% saying contractors can help bridge the skills gap and 16% believing they can help manage spikes in workload.

James Mackay, managing director of Autotech Recruit, said: “Our survey highlights that the skills shortage within the industry is still prevalent and the impact this is having on businesses, along with plans to address the challenge. Encouragingly, there is a growing recognition of the need to invest in salary and training, but it is important to remember that no company can resolve these issues alone. Stakeholders from across the industry, including employers, educational providers, recruitment specialists and industry interest organisations, need to work cohesively to make a real difference.”