(c) Matt Brogan GoAuto

INDEPENDENT research commissioned by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) and research partner Fifth Quadrant has revealed the true extent of the skills shortage facing Australia’s automotive workshops.

The numbers equate to a shortage of more than 40,000 workers across the automotive service and repair industry nationally or every workshop in the country being short one technician and one or two apprentices.

According to the AAAA, apprentice turn-over and vacancy levels are higher than at any time in the past with nearly a quarter of workshops (22 per cent) reporting the loss of an apprentice over the past 12 months, and 29 per cent saying they are currently seeking to hire at least one apprentice.

“The skills shortage is our industry’s most pressing issue,” said AAAA director of government relations and advocacy, Lesley Yates.

Ms Yates said the industry wide skills shortage comes as the number of automotive workshops across the country has increased. Nearly 3000 additional automotive service and repair workshops have joined the market over the past two years (+11.5 per cent), bringing the total number to 27,620.

Master technicians earn an average salary of $83,000 excluding superannuation, while the average salary for a first-year apprentice is $36,000.

“On the apprenticeship side, things incredibly difficult. The pool of talent is no longer there. I work closely with a major training provider and what we have learnt is that schools are not really talking to Year 10, 11 or 12 students about this industry as an option. As a result, we have a very low intake – it just isn’t on their radar.

“I have been in a management position for 16 years, and I can honestly say I’ve never seen the industry this bad. We are now paying a minimum of $70,000 a year, and for a good technician $95,000 a year – that’s just unreal. But with the ‘quality’ of staff coming into the trade we just must be very careful about who we hire because they are a danger to themselves, to other staff, and to our customers.

“The other way to look at it is from the financial side. A dealership has to make money to survive, and there is an expectation that a good technician should generate around $18,000 gross per month.

“If we are three technicians down, we’re tearing up $54,000 a month, and that simply isn’t sustainable – and in my view, a lot of that is what is driving this desperation for automotive workshops to employ those who don’t fit an acceptable industry standard.”

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