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Accident and repair sector rapidly losing skilled workers, finds IMI report

The report, 'Understanding the UK Accident & Repair Workforce', revealed that the sector loses an estimated 4,700 workers every year.

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The UK’s accident and repair sector is losing skilled workers at a rate that threatens to drive up motor insurance costs and extend vehicle repair times for millions of motorists, according to research from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

The report, ‘Understanding the UK Accident & Repair Workforce’, revealed that the sector loses an estimated 4,700 workers every year through retirement and labour market churn, while only around 3,000 workers join.

This leaves a net annual shortfall of approximately 1,700 skilled workers which the voice of the automotive workforce believes could widen without urgent action.

Nick Connor, CEO of the IMI, said: “The entire motor claims system depends on a workforce that is skilled for current and new technologies.

“However, our analysis shows that employers are not currently recruiting and retaining talent in key areas of the accident and repair ecosystem as individuals either retire or move into other sectors.

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“And this is having a damaging effect on both customer satisfaction for insurers and indemnity costs.”

A shrinking pool of qualified technicians means bodyshops face growing capacity constraints, pushing repair times up and increasing the cost of courtesy vehicles, alternative transport, and extended claims handling, according to the IMI.

Without coordinated action across industry, education, and Government, the IMI said these pressures will intensify.

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Paint technicians and autoglazers were found to be under the most severe pressure.

In the paint sector, annual exits number more than 800 against 400 new entrants – a gap of more than 400 workers every year, and only 12% of paint technicians are under 25.

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The IMI said the disparity in skills in specialist areas is because the majority of qualification activity across accident and repair pathways is concentrated in general accident repair.

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The specialist roles – paint, body repair, and glazing – receive a disproportionately small share of training provision.

As electric vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) become more prevalent across the UK vehicle parc, the technical demands placed on accident and repair technicians will increase.

The IMI called for coordinated action to increase the volume of new entrants into the sector, better alignment with training provision with real-world demand, and to strengthen retention and progression pathways for existing workers.

Connor added: “Apprenticeship starts across key pathways have not grown, and in some cases have declined leaving the sector without the talent pipeline it urgently needs.

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“We have a training system that is not aligned with demand with the result that employers are struggling to find paint technicians and glaziers because the pipeline predominantly produces generalists.

“That misalignment has to be addressed.

“The IMI will therefore advocate on behalf of the sector to government as well as the wider industry to drive change.

“The accident and repair workforce underpins the entire motor claims ecosystem in this country.

“Protecting that workforce is not just a matter for bodyshops and garages – it is a matter for insurers, fleet operators, and ultimately for every driver who needs their vehicle repaired

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