Mr Moir said that based on WA government data, the automotive industry trades have gone from being the occupation of last choice to being the vocational occupation of first choice. 

“Automotive is now outperforming the more traditionally attractive trades of electrical, plumbing and building construction,” he said.

“I think young people have become more attuned to the fact that we’ve moved on from the greasy fingernails and smelly workshops to what we offer out here, which is surgical, quality type environments where you work on very advanced technology.

“That’s attributed to the technology shift over the past five years. Now we have ADAS and electric vehicles and other high-technology equipment, and you can now use scan tools to diagnose faults.”

Mr Moir said after the opening late last year of the MTA WA’s EV training centre interest had taken off with more than 300 people going through the practical and theory classrooms since its November opening.

He said apprentice training numbers are up in most states although the automotive industry is still holding vacancies for about 40,000 employees.

In WA, NSW and South Australia, training for apprentices is growing with Western Australia showing markedly high growth.

He said that in the past 12 months his association had increased apprentice numbers by 42 per cent and in the 12 months prior to that, it went up by 78 per cent.

“We’ve gone from around 240 to 649 apprentices in training right now and demand is still very, very strong,” he said.

“A lot more young people are wanting to join (the MTA’s courses). Some are applying for dual courses, such as the light-vehicle technician program and then double it up with auto electrical components.”

Mr Moir said that there are about 40,000 vacancies in the automotive industry in Australia.

“To keep ahead of it, we need to be seeing around 10,000 apprentices a year coming into the system across Australia,” he said.

“Right now, the MTAA and the VACC have about 8000 young people in training, so we’re certainly the biggest of the training providers in the private sector; and there’s enormous potential to grow.”

By Neil Dowling