The UK’s automotive sector is one of the country’s most important industries. It employs over 760,000 people and plays a crucial role in driving innovation, career development, and economic growth in every region. From technical and manufacturing jobs to retail and administrative roles, the sector supports a huge variety of careers and opportunities.
But the road ahead is not without its challenges. As the sector undergoes rapid transformation, workforce imbalances are making it harder to stay competitive, innovative, and inclusive. The IMI’s upcoming Automotive Workforce Baseline Report highlights both the scale of the problem and the opportunities that lie ahead.
However, as we look to the future, it is clear that long-standing workforce imbalances are placing increasing pressure on the sector’s ability to stay competitive, inclusive, and resilient. The IMI’s upcoming Automotive Workforce Baseline Report presents a comprehensive picture of these challenges – from gender and disability gaps to an ageing workforce – alongside the opportunities to build a more future-ready sector.
One thing is clear though. Too many groups are still underrepresented across the sector, particularly in senior and technical roles. Women account for less than one in five people working in automotive, and even fewer hold leadership positions. Disabled people and those from non-White British backgrounds also remain underrepresented at senior levels. At the same time, nearly half of the workforce is over the age of 45, while not enough young people are entering the industry to replace those set to retire in the coming years.
There have been signs of progress in some areas, including improved ethnic representation across the workforce. But the picture is far from where it needs to be. The proportion of women and disabled people in senior roles has actually declined over the past three years. And when people face more than one barrier, for example, being both disabled and female, their access to career progression becomes even more limited.
That’s why the IMI is committed to leading the way. Through our Driving the Future of Automotive Forward Manifesto, the There’s More to Motor campaign, our Skills Competitions, and partnerships aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks, we are championing a more inclusive and future-ready automotive workforce.
We are also calling on government to support this mission with targeted investment in careers education, improved access to training, and a policy framework that puts diversity and inclusion at its core.
The future of the automotive sector depends on building a workforce that reflects the communities it serves. That is not just the right thing to do, it’s a business imperative. Together, employers, educators, policymakers and the IMI can make the sector stronger, more resilient and ready for the future.
