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 May 2026 update reviews certification activity from Q4 2025 and refreshes our workforce forecasts through to 2035. Although more technicians continue to gain EV qualifications, current growth levels still do not match the pace needed to support the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) ambitions.

Certification numbers continue to move in the right direction, but the gap between future demand and workforce readiness is still widening.

EV TechSafe Technician Forecast: Q3 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

Q3 2025 certification results

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

The total number of EV-qualified technicians has now reached 74,734. Although the workforce continues to expand, current certification rates still fall short of the levels needed to meet projected future demand.

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 highlights 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, projected demand continues to rise at a faster rate. The gap between technician supply and demand increases sharply from the early 2030s, with shortages beginning in 2033 and growing year by year. By 2035, the projected shortfall rises to more than 43,000 technicians.

This suggests that steady growth in certification alone will not fully meet future workforce needs. Without a faster increase in training uptake, technician availability could become a barrier to EV adoption rather than a support for it.

EV technician numbers continue to rise, but the workforce is still not growing quickly enough to meet projected demand. Without faster uptake in training, skills shortages risk slowing the UK’s transition to electric vehicles.

Why timing matters

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 leaves a limited window to expand training, support employers, and encourage more technicians to enter EV repair and maintenance roles. Delays during this period become increasingly difficult to recover, as the skills gap grows alongside rising EV volumes.