ABM_1 - Flipbook - Page 32
OPINION
RETAIL
AUTOMOTIVE'S
2025 WILL REDEFINE
↑ Julien Matalou is global vice president,
consumer goods and automotive
at ManpowerGroup
T
he road to future mobility isn't
just paved with technology,
it's powered by people. And
right now, that power is in
short supply.
ManpowerGroup's new
‘Automotive World of Work 2025
Outlook’ lands at a time when
the industry is under unprecedented
pressure. Electrification, automation,
and software-defined vehicles have
transformed what it means to design,
build, and sell cars. Yet, as production
lines go digital and powertrains go
electric, the human side of the industry is
struggling to keep pace.
76% OF AUTOMOTIVE
EMPLOYERS ARE
STRUGGLING TO FIND
SKILLED TALENT
The automotive industry stands at
a pivotal crossroads in 2025. With the
European Union's mandate to phase out
production of new internal combustion
engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035, China
continuing to dominate the electric
vehicle (EV) market with 50% of new car
sales, and US EV growth slowing due to
tariff-induced supply chain disruptions
and consumer concerns about charging
access, automotive companies must
navigate unprecedented complexity.
To remain viable, they must
simultaneously invest in the transition to
EVs, hybrids, and ICE platforms.
This tri-platform strategy demands
duplicated research and development,
diversified supply chains, and agile goto-market models. It also means they
need their workforce to be able to deliver
32
AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS Q4 2025
today and secure the present while being
prepared for the future.
The report reveals that 74% of
automotive employers are finding it
difficult to recruit the skilled talent they
need, while 91% say ongoing trade and
geopolitical uncertainty are already
64% OF
MANUFACTURERS SAY
THEY ARE CURRENTLY
REGIONALISING THEIR
SUPPLY CHAINS
shaping their hiring decisions. Meanwhile,
42% of automotive workers fear their
roles could be replaced by automation
within two years.
It's a sector caught between
transformation and talent scarcity, racing
to innovate while running low on fuel.
This scarcity isn't confined to automotive.
It reflects a broader labour market
crunch, where advanced economies are
competing for the same hybrid skillsets
that blend engineering, data, and digital
expertise. Automotive is no longer the
default destination for top tech talent.
UP TO 800,000
WORKERS WILL BE
NEEDED BY 2025 TO
SUPPORT GROWING
DEMAND FOR BATTERY
PRODUCTION IN EUROPE
