A research report published by Ennis & Co examining the skills gaps across the automotive and mobility sector was highlighted as a cause for concern for the global industry at the 2022 Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) annual dinner on November 29.
Addressing an audience of around 1,000 guests from the industry, government and the media, Steve Cropley, the editor-in-chief of Autocar, said the Ennis & Co report provided worrying reading about the sector’s critical skills shortage.
“Whenever we talk to people like you in the automotive industry, we hear about the urgency of the skills shortage,” he said.
“A recent report from Ennis and Co – called the Skills Evolution Roadmap 2025 – puts some pretty stark numbers on it. It estimates that the automotive sector will face a global shortage of 2.3 million skilled workers by 2025, and 4.3 million by 2030.”
Steve Cropley, Editor-in-Chief, Autocar
The report, which was published in the summer, revealed that an acute skills shortage across the industry was leaving businesses ill-equipped to take advantage of technological advances in electrification and digitalisation and leading to spiralling wage inflation as competition for talent intensifies.
The research was based on in-depth interviews with 44 senior business leaders from all areas of the industry – including CEOs, Presidents and Vice-Presidents.
As well as highlighting the skills shortages, the report created a model based on three different career stages to enable business leaders to create a solid action plan to address the problems in their organisation.
This included looking at ways to attract more mature employees, many of whom chose to leave the labour market during the pandemic.
Significantly, Halfords recently announced plans to recruit 1,000 car technicians by targeting retirees. The company said it would offer apprenticeships to over-50s.
