Auto workers enjoy the job but question the career

Most automotive workers enjoy their job, but more than half wouldn’t recommend automotive as a career, according to a new national workforce study.

The Australian Automotive Workforce Pulse, developed by Mechanic.com.au, surveyed more than 700 people across automotive roles, workplaces and locations. It found strong job satisfaction but far weaker career advocacy. Even among people happy in their job, almost half said they wouldn’t recommend the career to someone else.

Mechanic.com.au CEO Ryan Davis said the gap between enjoying the work and recommending the career was one of the clearest findings.

He said attracting people into automotive was only part of the challenge. The industry also needed to look closely at the career people experience once they’re in it. That includes whether they feel their skills are valued, whether they can see where their career is going and whether staying will give them the future they want.

Career pathways the weak spot

Of all the areas measured, career pathway clarity scored lowest. People who could clearly see a career path in automotive were far more likely to recommend it.

“Getting someone into automotive is only the beginning. The industry also has to give people reasons to develop, progress and stay,” Mr Davis said.

He said there was no single path that suited everyone, but people needed to see what building their skills and taking on more responsibility could lead to.

Staffing pressure

Two in three respondents said recruiting suitable staff was difficult, while four in 10 said their workplace didn’t have enough staff. Workers in understaffed workplaces reported a noticeably poorer overall experience, though the study notes this shows a link rather than cause and effect.

More than pay

Pay was the top factor when choosing an employer, picked by just over half of respondents. Work-life balance, respect from management, team environment and career progression followed.

Mr Davis said pay mattered, but people were also judging how they were treated, the environment they worked in and whether they could progress. For the industry to attract and keep people, he said, the employment offer had to stack up on more than one front.

Around one in five said they were unlikely to still be in automotive in five years, with a similar number unsure.

The study is the first in an ongoing series that will track the same measures over time. Participation was voluntary and the results reflect those who took part rather than the whole workforce.

The public edition is available at mechanic.com.au/wave1

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