February 2022

T he automotive aftermarket has been running with a skills gap for years now. Older technicians often are not upskilling as technology changes. Even when they are, retirement takes them out of the sector, and all the time the number of people coming in remains stubbornly below the required replacement threshold. As the pace of change increases, what can be done to fill the increasing shortage? Is it an issue of funding? Do we need to change the perception of the industry? Are we training enough people? Even if we are, do they receive the right training? Also, crucially, are we not looking in the right places to find the staff our sector needs? Do we need to think outside the box? The pandemic has not helped the situation. As reported in Aftermarket’s news section, a recent survey from The Motor Ombudsman found that the ability to recruit sufficient techs was the biggest worry for 67% of garages in 2021. Compounding the situation, 40% said the lack of staff meant they could not send their existing techs on training courses, with 38% pointing out that it meant they could not accommodate EV servicing. Commenting on the study, Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “The results of the study clearly show that staffing levels and a limited pool of qualified technicians to recruit from have taken centre stage, with there being little sign that this will change in the near future.” Encouragement IAAF CEO Mark Field had this to say: “The skills and recruitment shortage is not something that has happened overnight in our trade. It has been a long time coming and other industries and sectors are facing similar issues. Due to the rise in the number of employment opportunities in logistics and warehousing in recent years, from leading brand names, the automotive sector has struggled with its identity in attracting new talent. “The automotive aftermarket is both enthusiastic and passionate about the service it provides to motorists, and rightly so; The sector is the dominant provider for service and repair of vehicles. Such is the strength of the sector that, in a throw-away society driven by consumerism, the automotive aftermarket stands the test of time. If a vehicle 8 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2022 BIG ISSUE www.aftermarketonline.net MIND THE GAP As we move into 2022, the skills gap will be putting more pressure on businesses. What can we do to alleviate this perpetual problem? The possibilities and opportunities in our sector are endless ”