Skills shortage leaves up to 5,000 automotive industry jobs vacant, claims new report

The report, developed by SMMT Industry Forum for the Automotive Industrial Partnership, surveyed British-based automotive firms to identify the areas of employment most difficult to recruit, and provide the means for industry and government to tackle the skills issue. Just under a fifth (19%) of unfilled vacancies cited in the report are identified as ‘critical’ and having a significant impact on company operations.

Automotive companies are struggling to fill a range of engineering positions, with roles for design and production engineers being particularly difficult to fill. Consequently, companies are hiring temporary contractors and increasingly recruiting from abroad.

For vehicle production, 2015 was the best year in a decade with 1.59 million vehicles built, and volumes are forecast to reach an all-time record two million by 2020. The UK also achieved notable success in productivity levels, which have increased 40% since 2010 to make UK labour productivity the highest in Europe.