Vacancy Rate Tracker: 20,000 automotive vacancies still a big gap to fill

‘Motor Trades’ stays at number 2 in ‘Vacancies by Sector’ chart 

June 2024 saw the automotive sector continue to chip away at the significant skills gap. The Institute of the Motor Industry’s (IMI) latest Vacancy Rate Tracker for June 2024 data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows a reduction from 3.7 to 3.6 vacancies for every 100 employees. The sector remains number two on the 'Vacancies by Sector’ chart, behind the hospitality sector at 3.8 vacancies per 100 employees. Having dropped by 0.1% on the previous month, the automotive industry now has approximately 20,000 vacancies, across more than 200 varied roles. 

Data Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS) Dataset VACS02 ‘Vacancies by industry’ | Released 18 July 2024

Kevin Finn, Executive Chair at the IMI commented: “At the half-year point we can see clear evidence of a steady chipping away of the skills gap in the automotive sector. However, the numbers remain small, reflecting the huge task that still faces employers.

“One of the most significant challenges is the technological advances in automotive, which means each vacancy is competing against tech roles across a wider range of industries. It’s critical, therefore, that we do everything we can to change perceptions of what a career in automotive offers to effectively attract talent from other sectors.”

The IMI’s There's More to Motor campaign is helping to shift perceptions and encourage more people at all levels to consider a career in automotive, vastly increasing the talent pool businesses can tap into when recruiting to fill their skills gaps. With support from employers, this campaign is essential as the mix of automotive technologies on UK roads demands a more diverse skillset than ever before.

The IMI Automotive Vacancies report can be downloaded here

To be added to the database to receive the reports please email imiteam@harrisonsadler.com