EV TechSafe Technician Forecast - Q4 2025

UK EV technician numbers continue to grow, but workforce demand still outpaces supply

Each quarter, we publish the EV TechSafe Technician Forecast to monitor growth across the UK's EV-qualified workforce and assess whether training levels are keeping pace with future demand.

This update reviews certification activity from Q4 2025 and refreshes our workforce forecasts through to 2035.

Although technicians continue to gain EV qualifications, growth is not yet keeping pace with the workforce needed to support the UK's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) ambitions.

EV TechSafe Technician Forecast: Q4 2025 at a glance

• 2,792 technicians gained an EV qualification in Q4 2025
• This is 6% higher than Q3 2025, but 17% lower than the same period in 2024
• 74,734 technicians now hold an EV qualification
• Around 35% of the UK technician workforce is EV qualified
• We expect around 2,394 new certifications in Q1 2026
• Projected demand could exceed supply by more than 43,000 technicians by 2035

Q4 2025 certification results

Awarding organisations and eligible IMI accreditations certified 2,792 EV-qualified technicians during Q4 2025. While this represents a decline compared with Q4 2024, certification volumes stay above historic levels.

The total number of EV-qualified technicians has now reached 74,734. Workforce capacity continues to grow, but forecasts suggest demand will rise faster over the coming decade.

Early outlook for Q1 2026

Trends suggest that around 2,394 technicians could gain EV certification in Q1 2026. If achieved, the total number of EV-qualified technicians would rise to approximately 77,128.

The chart below shows how projected demand for EV-qualified technicians begins to outpace supply during the early 2030s.

Looking ahead to 2035

Our forecasts show continued growth in EV certification over the next decade, with the number of EV-qualified technicians projected to reach around 137,000 by 2032 and 193,000 by 2035.

However, demand is expected to grow more quickly. Shortages emerge from 2033 and increase year by year as more electric vehicles enter the UK car parc.

By 2035, the projected shortfall exceeds 43,000 technicians.

The findings reflect wider skills challenges across the automotive sector. Our ADAS TechSafe Technician Forecast, shows similar workforce pressures as advanced driver assistance systems become more common across the UK vehicle parc. Together, the forecasts point to growing demand for specialist skills across multiple vehicle technologies.

Without a faster increase in training uptake, technician availability could become a barrier to EV adoption rather than a support for it.

The challenge is no longer whether EV technician numbers are growing. The challenge is whether growth can keep pace with demand.

What this means for the industry

The greatest pressure on technician capacity is expected in the years leading up to 2030, as the ZEV mandate drives rapid growth in electric vehicle sales.

This creates a limited window for employers, training providers and technicians to expand EV capability before shortages emerge.

The challenge is no longer whether EV technician numbers are increasing. The challenge is whether enough technicians can gain the skills needed to support the UK's transition to electric vehicles.

Data sources

Certification estimates use Vocational Qualification Dataset published by Ofqual, Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment, Qualifications Scotland, and Qualifications Wales.

Author: Angela Barnard, Research and Insights Analyst.