The UK automotive sector will have a shortfall of nearly 36,000 technicians by 2030 unless training is addressed urgently.

The IMI says there will be a shortfall of 35,700 EV-trained technicians by 2030

New analysis from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) reveals that the gap in skills is widening as EV adoption accelerates. A total of 90,000 automotive technicians will be required to provide sufficient workforce to service the volume of zero-emissions vehicles predicted to be on UK roads by 2030 when the ICE ban kicks in.

And while retraining and reskilling will see some of those roles filled, there will be a shortfall of 35,700 technicians by 2030, with 2026 marking the point at which the skills gap will materialise.

The IMI said its analysis paints an even more challenging picture for the sector; its previous data had found that as of June 2021, only 6.5% of the automotive sector was EV-ready.

CEO Steve Nash said: “Once the charging network is fit for purpose, combined with electric vehicles becoming more financially accessible, the next big challenge will be how to ensure we have a workforce adequately qualified to provide the essential servicing, maintenance, and repair to keep these vehicles safe on the roads. And that’s where we believe government attention – and funds – should be focused now.

“Whether it’s looking at incentives to retrain the existing workforce, or ensuring that school-leavers and people changing the direction of their career are excited about the prospects of working in such a fast-moving sector, there needs to be a mind-shift in how to fix the widening skills gap. Significant investment is being ploughed into infrastructure, but the government still seems to be ignoring the fact that without a skilled workforce, it will fail in its decarbonisation ambitions.”

The IMI is now repeating its plea for the Government to commit funding to support EV skills training. It’s suggesting a £15m boost would play a critical role, contributing towards training for up to 75,000 technicians – small fry compared to the £1.9bn investment committed by the Government in the 2020 Spending Review to supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles for charging infrastructure and consumer incentive.

“The Government wants the adoption of EV to continue at a pace – the investment in EV charging needs to be matched by an investment in EV skills training to help employers ensure the workforce is EV-ready and electrified motoring doesn’t come at a premium,” concluded Nash.