Automotive trades stay short as national skills shortages ease, says MTAA
The 2026 Occupation Shortage List shows fewer occupations in shortage, but MTAA says nine automotive trades have been short every year since 2021.
The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) says automotive skills shortages remain unresolved, even as Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2026 Occupation Shortage List shows national shortages easing.
The share of occupations in national shortage fell from 29% in 2025 to 27% in 2026, but technicians and trades workers still have the highest shortage rate of any major occupational group, at 48%.
According to MTAA, nine automotive trades occupations have been in shortage in every list since 2021, and two more since 2022.
“National shortages may be easing, but automotive workshops are still struggling to find the people they need,” says MTAA executive director Bruce Billson. “MTAA’s latest workforce survey found employers filled fewer than half their vacancies, with more than 90% reporting recruitment difficulties.”
Separate Jobs and Skills Australia research estimated 40,100 vacancies across automotive and engineering trades in the November 2025 quarter, against 26,900 online job advertisements.
Visas and apprentices
MTAA has been calling for automotive trades to get priority visa processing, and Billson says they are still missing from the government’s new arrangements.
“Automotive technicians are in chronic shortage, yet they are missing from the new priority visa processing arrangements that recognise critical skills needs in other industries. Skilled migration won’t replace domestic training, but businesses need access to qualified workers while we build the next generation of technicians,” he says.
He says apprenticeship support also needs to improve.
“Apprenticeship incentives have fallen from up to $37,000 to around $5,000, while only around half of automotive apprentices complete their training. We need stronger incentives, better mentoring and training providers with the resources and equipment to prepare the next generation of technicians.”
Billson says shortages also affect motorists.
“When workshops can’t find technicians, motorists wait longer, repairs cost more and vehicle safety can be put at risk. We can’t build the automotive workforce of tomorrow by neglecting the one we need today.”
In Victoria, the VACC says automotive apprentices have been left out of the state’s 2027 Free TAFE expansion.
Join the conversation