Vacancy Tracker - June 2025

Each month, we track vacancy trends across the UK job market to understand workforce pressures in the Motor Trades sector, using the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) vacancy data.

The May figures highlight a further downturn in job openings, raising concerns about future skills growth and business resilience.

Automotive Vacancies: May 2025 at a glance

• Vacancy rate in Motor Trades: 2.7
• UK industry rank: Seventh out of 21
• Approximate open positions: 16,000
• Year-on-year change: -39%
• Two-year change: -52%
• National average: 2.3

May outlook

Vacancies across all UK sectors fell to 736,000 between March and May 2025, marking the 35th consecutive quarterly drop. This gradual decline has brought overall vacancy levels just below those seen before the pandemic, suggesting employers are proceeding with care amid economic uncertainty.

Since April, the Motor Trades sector has seen a reduction of around 1,000 positions, with the vacancy rate falling from 3.4 in May 2024 to 2.7 in May 2025, a 21% decrease. While this may suggest easing recruitment pressures, it also points to a maturing and increasingly competitive labour market.

Key takeaways

• Market correction in progress
  Vacancy levels across the UK continue to decline and have now dipped just below pre-pandemic levels, pointing to a period of stabilisation in the labour market.
• Motor Trades adjusting after demand surge
  Following a sharp rise in job openings during the post-pandemic recovery, the Motor Trades sector is experiencing a more pronounced correction.
• Demand for skills persists
  Despite a drop in advertised roles, many employers still struggle to fill technical positions, highlighting a continuing mismatch between available talent and industry needs.
• Economic context influencing hiring
  Ongoing cost pressures and shifting business priorities are contributing to more cautious recruitment decisions.

Explore more workforce trends and insights in our latest Labour Market Report.