One of the largest automotive industry bodies in Australia has sounded the alarm about the ongoing skills shortage with panel beaters, and spray painters listed among the most pressured roles in the latest data.
The Motor Traders’ Association of NSW (MTA NSW) has warned the shortage of qualified automotive technicians threatens national productivity as the automotive sector pain spreads and repairs slow down or can’t get done .
The Occupation Shortage List released by Jobs and Skills Australia shows widespread shortages across the sector with light and heavy vehicle technicians, auto electricians, panel beaters, and spray painters some of the critical roles listed.
MTA NSW CEO Stavros Yallouridis said the skills pipeline is failing to keep up with the nation’s growing demand for maintenance and repair.
“This shortage isn’t new, but it’s getting worse, and the consequences are now being felt across the economy,” Yallouridis says.
“We have been warning for years that the lack of qualified technicians would cripple productivity. It’s not just about filling jobs; it’s about keeping essential industries moving. Every freight truck, every regional service van, every family car depends on this workforce.”
He says despite repeated inquiries and consultations from Jobs and Skills Australia, state education departments and parliamentary reviews, little tangible action has been taken to reverse the decline .
Hit to productivity
The NSW Productivity Commission’s post-COVID Green Paper also identified automotive mechanics as a persistent shortage occupation, one of the longest-running examples of an unaddressed skills gap in Australia.
“We have an aging workforce, businesses in regional and rural areas closing due to lack of qualified staff, and fewer young people entering trades at all,” Mr Yallouridis said.
Failing Pipeline
Recent data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) underscores the problem. Its 2024 Generation Z: Life After COVID report found that only 67 per cent of 24-year-olds held a qualification, down from 77 per cent in 2012, and just 54% were in full-time work.
“These figures show that young Australians aren’t getting the training or the job opportunities they need, and the automotive industry is feeling that acutely,” Mr Yallouridis says.
“If governments don’t act now to strengthen the apprenticeship and training pipeline, this shortage will only deepen, taking small businesses and essential services down with it.”
Action plan
MTA NSW wants a national action plan with coordinated investment in training, incentives for apprenticeships, and recognition of the automotive industry’s role as a key enabler of national productivity.
“Without qualified technicians, the costs flow to everyone – higher repair times, business downtime, and reduced freight efficiency. We need urgent, coordinated action to address this skills gap around the country.”