While vacancies across the wider UK economy have edged down, recruitment activity in the motor trade is moving in the opposite direction.

The latest figures from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) estimate around 17,000 motor-trade vacancies across June to August 2026, up from approximately 16,000 in the previous reporting period.

The sector's job openings rate also increased to 2.8%, placing motor trades joint second among 23 UK industries.

For anyone working in automotive retail, however, the detail behind the headline is particularly interesting.

Technical talent remains in demand
Automotive job postings were 22% higher in August than a year earlier, with technical roles continuing to account for much of the demand.

Vehicle Technician titles represented the largest advertised group, with more than 10,000 postings, while Service Technician postings recorded particularly strong year-on-year growth.

Demand is also changing as vehicle technology develops.

Mentions of EV-related skills increased significantly compared with last year, reinforcing the importance of technical knowledge continuing to evolve alongside the vehicles entering UK workshops.

What does this mean for automotive professionals?
The figures don't mean every automotive business is increasing headcount, and overall motor-trade vacancy levels remain below where they were two years ago.

But they do show that good automotive people - particularly those with strong technical skills - remain important to employers.

For someone considering their next career move, that makes it worth understanding what opportunities are available.

You don't necessarily need to be actively looking to start that conversation.

Sometimes it is simply useful to understand the market, what your experience is worth and whether there could be an opportunity that better suits what you want next.

Pembrook Resourcing is currently recruiting across the UK for a range of dealership positions, from technical and aftersales roles through to sales and management opportunities.

View our latest automotive vacancies or get in touch with the Pembrook team for a confidential conversation about your next move.

Source: Institute of the Motor Industry - Vacancy Tracker, August 2026.