Vacancy Tracker - August 2025

Each month, we analyse UK job vacancy data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to understand workforce challenges in the Motor Trades sector.

Automotive Vacancies: July 2025 at a glance

• Vacancy rate: 2.7%
• UK industry rank: 7th out of 21
• Approximate open positions: 16,000
• Year-on-year change: -12%
• Two-year change: -27%

July outlook

Vacancies across all UK sectors fell to 718,000 between May and July 2025, marking the 36th consecutive quarterly decline. With vacancy volumes now dipping below pre-pandemic levels, the data signals a cautious hiring environment across most industries.

Since June, the Motor Trades sector has recorded an increase of 2,000 open positions, with the vacancy rate increasing from 2.3% to 2.7%.