Skills and training

15 April 2022

Driving change

It may not be front of mind, but the automotive industry is facing the most serious skills shortage in its history. This will affect almost every Australian in the form of long waits for vehicle services, some of which are safety-related.

And it’s only getting worse.

There is a skilled labour deficit of 31,143 positions across the industry that is forecast to rise to 38,700 positions during 2022/23.

This skills deficit demands urgent government action on two fronts. 

Firstly, the reinstatement of permanent and temporary skilled migration at a heightened level.

Next, automotive apprentices and employers need greater training incentives and support. This includes initiatives to help build Australia’s emerging workforce on Zero and Low Emissions Vehicles and assist existing technicians to upskill to maintain a zero-emissions vehicle fleet. 

Research shows mentoring apprentices through the early stages of their apprenticeship has a significant impact on retention and completion rates, so this needs support, too. 

The next Australian Government should:

• Remove the applicability criteria for employer sponsored permanent and temporary migration from the skill shortage lists
• Continue the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy programs 
• Reintroduce the Federal Government’s apprentice mentoring program
• Support initiatives to increase apprentice commencement and completion rates 
• Introduce improved support measures and incentives for employers to hire and retain automotive apprentices.

Read REVolution: The automotive industry’s policy priorities for the next Australian Government.

Words: TACC State Manager, Bruce McIntosh. As featured in The Mercury Friday 15 April 2022.