Do you enjoy working with your hands, and finding out how things work? Have you got a strong interest in motor vehicles, from cars and motorcycles to buses and trucks? If so, this career area might be the one for you.
The digitisation of automotive manufacturing has meant increased productivity and shorter time to market. Vehicles of all types are becoming more complex, with more onboard computers and internet access. So, diagnosing faults in vehicle computer networks and repairing electronic faults has become more important.
The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy. In 2022 it employed 800,000 people, with 208,000 directly employed in the manufacturing sub sector.1
This career area includes jobs in:
To see the routes to getting into each of these sectors, take a look at our Career Pathway.
Possible employers include:
You might be able to become a vehicle technician specialising in the repair and maintenance of vehicles used by emergency and rescue services, with organisations such as Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, airport fire and rescue services and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
There are also relevant opportunities in the Armed Services, particularly in the Army, for repairing and maintaining military vehicles, from light armoured vehicles to tanks.
In April 2024, the UK motor trade sector reached the highest vacancy rate of 4% per 100 employees, which is 43% above the national average. It was reported in May 2024 that there were 22,000 job openings since February 2024. However, there was a reduction in job postings by a third between June 2023 and April 2024, indicating a struggle to recruit and retain skilled employees, despite competitive salary increases. Over 50% of jobs advertised were for roles like Vehicle Technicians, Mechanics, and Electricians. Salaries for these jobs have seen a rise of 38%, while Vehicle Paint Technicians saw the highest advertised salaries, at £40,000 (£10,000 above the government median). Tyre, Exhaust, and Windscreen fitters saw the most significant drop in job postings. ²
In 2022, there were around 79,000 people employed in the UK automotive supply chain sector, with 2,500 automotive suppliers in the UK. 17 of the world’s biggest automotive suppliers have a base in the UK. ¹
This sector shows a significant gender gap, with females comprising only 17.5% of the workforce (in contrast to their 53% representation in the general working-age population). However, in sub-sectors such as car and light motor vehicle sales, there is a positive trend of female representation. ³
Most young people join the industry by doing a Modern Apprenticeship, which involves on the job training and going to a college or training centre part time. There is also the opportunity to start training at school with the Foundation Apprenticeship in Automotive.
The Institute of the Motor Industry (The IMI) is the sector skills council for the motor trade. You will find useful information on their careers website Autocity.
1 SMMT Motor Industry Facts, May 2024, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
2 Automotive Labour Market Briefing, May 2024, The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)
3 Driving towards inclusion: Sector report, March 2024, The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)
Institute of Motor Industry
