The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has put the skills crisis in the automotive sector top of the agenda in its just launched manifesto, ‘Driving the Future of Automotive Professionals’.
The manifesto sets out “clear, actionable steps” to attract new talent into the sector and create “defined career pathways” to support the upskilling of the existing workforce.
The UK automotive sector employs 866,000 individuals, contributing £37bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2023.
The IMI warned there could be a need to replace 144,000 (19%) of the current workforce due to retirement by 2032, which coupled with 17,000 current vacancies, it said could severely impact the sector’s ability to be future-ready.
Hayley Pells, policy lead at the IMI said, “This is a crucial moment for the automotive sector.
“If we’re going to keep pace with change and remain competitive, we must act now to close the skills gap.
“Our ‘Driving Automotive Forward’ manifesto sets out how we can bring in new talent, support the current workforce, and prepare for tomorrow’s technology.
“We’re calling on employers, policymakers, and educators to work with us to make this happen – together we can build a thriving, future-ready industry.”
The manifesto outlines three key commitments to address the core sector challenges:
- Attract and Recruit Talent:
- Retain and Progress Talent:
- Skills for the Future
