{"id":26049,"date":"2026-03-09T03:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T03:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trsresourcing.com\/?p=26049"},"modified":"2026-03-09T03:02:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T03:02:24","slug":"automotive-dealership-recruitment-in-australia-workforce-planning-defines-profitability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trsresourcing.com\/article\/automotive-dealership-recruitment-in-australia-workforce-planning-defines-profitability\/","title":{"rendered":"Automotive Dealership Recruitment in Australia Workforce Planning Defines Profitability"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Automotive<\/a><\/h1>\n

The Australian automotive industry has come a long way since the end of large-scale passenger vehicle manufacturing in 2017. And now the sector generates more than $14 billion in annual revenue and employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia point toward 50,000 or more roles by 2033.<\/p>\n

For automotive and truck dealerships across Victoria and nationally, that growth is good news but it’s also pressure. More trucks, buses, caravans, and specialist builds on the road means more servicing demand coming through workshop doors. The question I’m hearing from dealership principals is “where are all the good technicians?”<\/p>\n

Automotive Technician Shortages Are Structural, Not Temporary<\/span><\/h2>\n

The 2023 Skills Priority List from Jobs and Skills Australia flagged Motor Mechanics, Metal Fitters, Vehicle Body Builders, and Industrial Engineers as being in national shortage. That shortage has not been resolved.<\/p>\n

The median age of the automotive manufacturing workforce sits in the early forties. Experienced technicians are retiring or moving into lighter roles, and the apprentice pipeline is not replacing them quick enough. TAFE enrolments remain steady but are geographically limited. Apprenticeship commencements have not accelerated at the pace the market needs.<\/p>\n

Three Pressures Facing Victorian Dealerships Right Now<\/span><\/h2>\n

Recruiting across Victorian automotive dealerships every day, I see the same challenges come up consistently.<\/p>\n

Workshop Capacity Directly Impacts Revenue<\/span><\/h3>\n

Service departments are the primary profit driver for dealerships. Being short even one qualified technician causes productivity to drop and wait times to blow out.<\/p>\n

Technician Turnover Is Increasing<\/span><\/h3>\n

Good technicians are being approached constantly. Pay has risen across the sector, but wages alone are not keeping people. Workshop culture, leadership quality, training pathways, and working conditions are now the big deciding factors for candidates choosing between employers.<\/p>\n

Heavy Vehicle and EV Skill Gaps Are Widening<\/span><\/h3>\n

Truck dealerships and heavy vehicle workshops face acute shortages of diesel mechanics and diagnostic specialists. EV and hybrid technology is adding demand for updated electrical capability on top of existing gaps. Technicians with advanced diagnostic or high-voltage skills are highly mobile and selective. Victoria’s dealership network is also competing with OEM programs, fleet operators, mining contractors, and specialist manufacturers for the same talent pool.<\/p>\n

Automotive Dealership Recruitment<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n