Polish association of workers in the automotive sector is trying to overcome the increasing labour shortage in the sector with competition and a new strategy to revamp the sector’s image.
The Association of Distributors and Manufacturers of Automotive Parts (SDCM) said in a recent report that out of the 24,000 garages and car workshops operating in Poland 75% are looking for specialised labour.
According to SDCM’s president Tomasz Bęben there are more and more cars circulating in Poland, however “despite the growing demand for services, car workshops are struggling with a dramatic shortage of qualified employees.” The lack of specialised workers is already leading to more expensive car services and longer waiting times.
Two correlated issues have been identified by Bęben and his association for this shortage. First, there is a limited influx of young people, because the sector has a “poor image” problem. The job of the mechanic has changed over time, but “stereotypical associations include dirty hands and hard physical work in a pit or under a lift” that harm the possible workers. However, nowadays the job involves “not only mechanical knowledge, but also skills in the field of mechatronics, electronics, and even computer science,” said Bęben.
To fight off old stereotypes and “to promote a modern image of the automotive industry, enable participants to gain new knowledge, and also discover and support young talents,” the SDCM is promoting the Talent Race competition among students of vocational and technical schools across Poland.
The competition will last seven months with monthly finals and a grand finale. Participants will face real challenges like a professional internship. In the minds of the organisers, the Talent Race will help students to enter car workshops and even universities across Poland.
