19.08.2010

Motor industry reports skills shortages

As the motor industry begins to climb out of recession, a skills shortage in key areas is becoming apparent, writes John Loughran.

After two years of retrenchment and with new car sales for the first seven months of the year (74,111 units) running at almost 47 per cent ahead (50,458) of the corresponding period last year a growing number of garages around the country are hitting the recruitment trail.

Incredibly, with unemployment running at record highs, the motor trade is reporting skills shortages in certain sectors, most notably workshop staff.

Dr. Arthur O'Sullivan, Managing Director, Sheehy Motor Group says the skills deficit isn’t new to the motor industry.

“There is a deficit but I would say that this deficit has always been present. In my experience the majority of highly intelligent or high achieving second-level students tend to follow third-level education paths rather than trade routes,” he confirmed.

For many years, the brightest and best second-level students have been encouraged to continue their education at third level rather. than taking up apprenticeships

Dr. O’Sullivan commented: “If we want to recruit the brightest and best we need to work towards the German model of treating trades and crafts as valuable in society and no less equal than professions such as law or medicine.”

“At the Sheehy Motor Group, we believe in continuously recruiting and training apprentices so that we have a pool of talent to tap into in the better times. We are back in the market for training apprentices again after two tough years of cutbacks and retrenchment. Speaking to colleagues, this approach is replicated in many businesses today.”

Dr. O’Sullivan believes the motor industry need to address the skills shortage at a macros and micro level.

He elaborated: “We need to work at a macro level to show trades people that their contribution to society is as valued (or maybe more valued) as that of any profession.”

“On a micro level, dealerships need to treat their skilled workshop teams with the same dignity and remuneration levels as their admin and sales colleagues.”


Back